Ronaldo was 'very good,' the team 'deserves praise,' and Diogo Costa 'was fantastic': everything Roberto Martínez said

— What was the feeling about not taking Cristiano off and bringing on Gonçalo Ramos or Gonçalo Guedes?

— Cristiano is our striker; he makes crucial movements in the box. For us, it's vital to adjust and synchronize our movements with the other ten players. That's part of growing as a team and fine-tuning our approach. Cristiano is in excellent physical condition; we monitor his physical data live, and he performed exceptionally well. We now have four days to recover, and we're treating all players equally in terms of recovery. Thank you.

— What's your assessment of the match?

— I believe we had chances to score in the first half, with Bruno and Félix. In these knockout games against high-quality teams, it's crucial to be clinical. We need to kill the game early, score the first and second goals, and maintain our dominance. We couldn't do that today. We tried our best to score at the end and created a late opportunity. They also created many chances because they're a quality team with great players. I think the key point was how we managed to block Luis Díaz and James Rodríguez, both very talented players. So, I think the whole team deserves praise. It was a tough game with a challenging atmosphere due to the large Colombian presence. Now, it's time to rest and prepare for the next round.

— Portugal was expected to take that step forward to secure first place, but the team ended up drawing. How might this impact the knockout stage?

— We are Portugal. While respecting every national team, we are Portugal. We go into every game to win, with confidence. I think today we showed the quality of our team and our ability to endure. Even a high-quality team needs to know how to suffer in difficult moments, and I believe that's what will take us far in this World Cup. The group is very united, and that's the most important thing. We're talking about two teams that had already qualified, and the third game could have been a formality, a match just to fulfill the schedule. But it wasn't. Both teams were focused on trying to win, on getting to the goal. For us, it was a very valuable test. It's one of those games after which you feel much more prepared, at all levels.

— Did Portugal adapt well to the very different climate?

— The World Cup demands a lot, and we've already discussed the conditions: it was difficult to make good decisions when physical conditions are challenging. Overall, I was very pleased with our defensive intensity, Diogo Costa's performance, and how we managed to keep a clean sheet despite Colombia's numerous attacks in the final third. This greatly helps us improve and fine-tune our defensive tactical structure.

— How did you view Colombia's performance?

— We allowed Colombia to play the game they wanted. Colombia is a team that thrives on transitions and creating numerous duels. We needed to control the game, control possession. I don't think we made the right decisions to achieve that. If we don't control the ball, we lose some of our players' individual talent. So, overall, it was a very, very valuable test for us. As we showed after the first game, the group is self-critical and ready to grow. We've now had three games; it's time to evaluate and prepare for the match against Croatia. One aspect: of course, we want to win, and we want to win every game 3-0 and control the matches. But the reality in football is that we've had three games, two draws and one win, and the team is now fully prepared for the next match.

— After this group stage, we enter the knockout phase. Does Portugal remain a contender? Can they still be considered a World Cup favorite after this group stage?

— I've never changed our philosophy. Our idea was that the first World Cup consists of three games, and what the team can do is face difficult moments and grow significantly, with responsibility and immense effort. We've done that. Regarding the locker room values, I am very, very satisfied with the players. We've already had 21 outfield players make their debut. I have great belief in all the players and what we can achieve. So, we've qualified. The first World Cup is over. Now it's about preparing for the next opponent, Croatia, a team we know well, a European team. I think the team is now ready to continue with our objective, which is to try to win every game. Therefore, the objective doesn't change, the process doesn't change. Now we are focused on recovering well and preparing for the game in four days.

— You previously said it didn't matter whether we finished first or second. The fact is, Portugal now has one less day of rest. If you eliminate Croatia, you could play Spain...

— Your assessment isn't positive. So, someone has to make positive assessments. The game against Colombia was as demanding as we expected, especially given the climatic conditions. It was a different opponent. We need different types of games to reach our peak level: the attitude, the effort, everything we've worked on. But the opponent has quality. There are moments when it's important to be able to defend the box.

— Diogo Costa was the best player on the field. Given all this, how can you make a positive assessment?

— Diogo Costa's performance was fantastic. For us, seeing Diogo Costa's level is very important. There are aspects we need to improve now. It's important to do that and prepare for the game against Croatia. Winning or losing today doesn't dictate whether it helps win the World Cup or not. The path to achieving our goal, which is to play eight games, doesn't change because of this. We tried to win the game, but the opponent also tried to win. It was a very open game. Probably more open than we wanted, because it was a match where Colombia used transitions and duels very well. For us, it helps a lot to prepare for the rest of the World Cup.

— You've said several times that this was the first World Cup and now the next one begins. After these first three games, will Portugal approach the match against Croatia more confident or more self-doubting?

— That's a very good question because, without a doubt, we'll arrive much more confident and much better prepared. This is a team that faces difficult moments, that manages to improve, that manages to be more united psychologically, in terms of responsibility and confidence. But that's part of the process. We need to look at all three performances — not just today's — improve the aspects we need to adjust, and maintain the good aspects. We are in a good moment because, as I said, we have 21 outfield players who have already had the opportunity to be on the pitch, and I feel that the team is ready for the next game.

— Were you surprised by Colombia's level?

— Whether I was surprised or not, we already knew Colombia's level. We had seen their friendlies against Spain and England. Those were good games that helped us understand the capacity this team has, especially collectively and with their key players. They take games where they want them to go, so it wasn't a surprise. It was very difficult for us to try and control the match. We have very high-quality players in possession, like Vitinha, but in reality, we couldn't take the game to a point where we could fully utilize our individual talent. So, nothing surprised me. I think these are very competitive matches, as we've seen against Argentina, where Colombia generally uses the aspects I mentioned. And that prepares us. I would also say that Néstor Lorenzo would say the same: after the game, his team is much more prepared now. I would say exactly the same: that our team is much better prepared now. It's important to note that we had to defend our box more than we wanted, but defensive capability is also important. The goalkeeper also plays a role, and Diogo Costa showed a very high level.

— Were you surprised by the three changes Colombia made?

— For us, at the national team level, it's always necessary to prepare the collective idea. Some individual adjustments can be made, but nothing more than that. It didn't surprise us. In other words, no matter who plays, the idea is the same. Perhaps we couldn't play a fluid game. The game became broken, and perhaps we allowed the opponent to become stronger when it was broken. With the help of VAR, nothing to say. It was a divided match, with a lot of physical contact and two teams that wanted to win the game.

— Portugal will play their next match very close to Diogo Jota's birthday. Tell us how difficult this will be for you and your players, and how Diogo's strength is reflected in this team?

— Every day is difficult. When we're training, there are always moments when Diogo Jota comes to mind. So, I wouldn't say his birthday will be especially difficult. I think it could even be a moment of celebration. We have to win for Diogo Jota. Everything we started with this team began with him. We won the Nations League with him. He is, probably, the sound and light of the greatest motivation we have to win the World Cup for him. I think his birthday is just a moment that makes the game Diogo Jota's game, but, ultimately, it's another game for him. I wouldn't say it's a difficult moment; I would say these are always complicated moments. We are a stronger team, we look at his belief and desires, and his presence is always marked within us.

— Cristiano Ronaldo is 41 years old. Are you happy with his performance and the game itself?

— We don't compare players in our team with other players to make decisions. That's very childish and unprofessional. I can say that we monitor all the information we receive live during games and what we do between training sessions. It's always an opportunity.

— Does Croatia have a similar style to Colombia?

— Colombia and Croatia are completely different. Their game philosophy and how they try to exploit space are distinct. We weren't surprised by Colombia's ideas, nor by the strength of their wings, where they like to play and open up the field. They like to break up the game and find intermediate spaces. They are two completely different teams. We know Richard Ríos better, and if the coach leaves Richard Ríos out of the starting eleven, it means he's doing a great job.