«Players must have different statuses,» says Jorge Jesus

In an interview with Canal 11, Jorge Jesus shed light on some of the methods he plans to implement within the Portuguese National Team's locker room. When questioned about the hierarchy and roles that should exist within a squad, the national coach was unequivocal.

«Not just in national teams, but in clubs too, players must have different statuses. They all need to follow the same rules, but their standing within the team will differ. Players must understand that some individuals are distinct due to their past achievements and importance. However, the rules apply equally to everyone,» he stated emphatically.

It's no secret that Brazil attempted to recruit Jorge Jesus to lead their charge for the 2026 World Cup, before ultimately securing Carlo Ancelotti for the role. The Brazilian national team was eventually knocked out in the round of 16 by Norway, adding another disappointment to their World Cup history, a result the Portuguese coach also commented on.

«Brazil always has great players, but then they can't seem to win championships. I can confess this: I ended up not coaching the Brazilian national team, but I had already received instructions to prepare a preliminary squad for Brazil for a match after they lost 1-4 to Argentina in March,» said Jesus, referring to March 2025, when Brazil, under Dorival Júnior, suffered a heavy defeat in Argentina.

Finally, Jesus mentioned he would have made some changes to Carlo Ancelotti's squad selection: «Of course, I would have made adjustments to one or two players. I believe that, at this moment, the best striker in Brazilian football is Pedro, who played for me at Flamengo. Beyond that, it's about personal touch, and that's what differentiates each coach.»