Portugal midfielder, Bruno Fernandes, has disagreed with captain Cristiano Ronaldo’s statement that new manager Roberto Martinez has added a breath of ‘fresh air’ to the national team.
Recall that the Portuguese Football Association recently appointed Martinez as the new head coach of the national team, replacing Fernando Santos.
Martinez led Portugal as they defeated Liechtenstein 4-0 in a Euro 2024 qualifier in his first match in charge of the team last week.
The former Belgium coach also led the team as they thrashed Luxembourg 6-0 in another Euro 2024 qualifier on Sunday.
However, Ronaldo had claimed there is “fresh air now, different ideas and mentality” with Martinez at the helm.
But Fernandes, though, has claimed that Selecao has never been in need of fresh air like Ronaldo suggested, adding that the team is in a transition period.
“No, it’s just a new coach with new ideas,” Fernandes told Portuguese television channel RTP3.
“There is no breath of fresh air at all. It’s just a transition period.”
“The atmosphere in the national team has always been good. There has never been anything that was not fresh air, so I think it is just new dynamics, new coach, and you have to assimilate his ideas.”