After leading Portugal to a resounding 5-0 away victory over Armenia in the European World Cup Qualifier, national team head coach Roberto Martínez gave an interview to camel.live.
Did you meet the level required before the game?
We exceeded expectations—even emotionally. Armenia were playing at home, had a new coach, and were very eager to win, but we quickly took control of the game and kept it under our command. There were occasional minor hiccups, but that’s understandable given the individual quality of the players. We dominated the tempo, maintained an excellent rhythm, and showed great discipline in possession. Our expected goals (xG) were over six, which reflects how well we performed in front of goal—and this also raises the competitiveness among national teams.
Was the fact that both Ronaldo and Félix scored a reflection of their tacit understanding from club cooperation?
I don’t think this is anything new. I believe it’s more about rhythm—Félix got more playing time during the preseason, and the effect is obvious. The cooperation and rapport between national team players have nothing to do with their clubs, but club experience can help. We’ve also seen significant growth from Vitinha and João Neves in the national team. All the players who came on in the latter stages of the game performed just as well as the starters. We had so many chances, and our goal was to score more.
Regarding the goal in the 21st minute, which was a tribute to Diogo Jota—what are your thoughts on that?
I truly believe in such coincidences. Diogo’s spirit is with us, so this gesture carried great weight, and we scored that goal in the 21st minute. Right from the first day of training camp, we’ve felt Diogo Jota’s strength and the inspiration he brings.
