PRESS CONFERENCE WITH PORTUGAL COACH ROBERTO MARTINEZ AND PORTUGAL MIDFIELDER BRUNO FERNANDES
RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SHOTLIST AND SCRIPT
SHOWS: MUNICH, GERMANY (JUNE 3, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all)
1. VARIOUS OF PORTUGAL COACH, ROBERTO MARTINEZ, ENTERING PRESS CONFERENCE
2. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PORTUGAL COACH, ROBERTO MARTINEZ, SAYING:
“I look at the 28 games we’ve played, the team has always been committed. We have the most points, the most goals, and the most wins over 28 matches that the squad has had for decades. And that’s what a coach focuses on and works on. We’re where we want to be, the final phase of the Nations League, which is the most demanding part of this competition. After eight matches, I think it’s a match that we need to continue towards our objective, which is to win international titles, and now we have that chance. But on top of that, in just 12 months, we’ll have a shot at the World Cup. So, the idea I have is to look at the full picture and to keep preparing the squad to the highest level.”
3. PRESS CONFERENCE
4. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PORTUGAL COACH, ROBERTO MARTINEZ, SAYING:
“Both of the teams (Germany and Portugal) like to take risks and get deep in the opponents’ penalty area. So, I think what we and Germany are able to do in the area is what will make the difference. It will be the minute details. So, I think for neutral fans, it is going to be a very interesting match.”
5. MARTINEZ IN CAMERA VIEWFINDER
6. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PORTUGAL COACH, ROBERTO MARTINEZ, ON AVAILABILITY OF PSG PLAYERS COMING OFF WINNING THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, SAYING:
“It is really important to us that Joao (Neves), Vitinha, Goncalo (Ramos), and Nuno (Mendes) won the Nations League [Champions League]. It was a big moment, and it is a contagious feeling of positive energy that is contagious. It’s also important to see they have adapted well. The first day was a general training session. They had a good session today. Now we will have to evaluate them over the next 24 hours. Because if we want to win the Nations League, there are two matches over four days and so we need to manage all the players and their energy levels, the connections, tactical aspects that we will need to use in the match will play into the decision. But what I can say is that the emotional aspect is important. But the decision will have to wait until tomorrow so we can fully evaluate the physical aspects, over the emotional aspect, which is clearly unmatched.”
7. PRESS CONFERENCE
8. MARTINEZ LEAVING PRESS CONFERENCE
9. VARIOUS OF PORTUGAL MIDFIELDER, BRUNO FERNANDES, ENTERING PRESS CONFERENCE
10. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PORTUGAL MIDFIELDER, BRUNO FERNANDES, SAYING:
“The past is in the past. We want to write a new story, and that starts with winning this match so we can go to the final. We know we will be facing one of the best teams in the world, but so are we. We want to play to our strengths as best we can to get the result we need. We have lots of players who can pull off heroic feats. That’s why I think if one player or another has an inspired moment, we have players who can put us over the line. But we know how hard we have to work as a team to beat this great squad we are facing.”
11. PRESS CONFERENCE
12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PORTUGAL MIDFIELDER, BRUNO FERNANDES, ON CRISTIANO RONALDO, SAYING:
“No, the role for Cristiano (Ronaldo) is always the same. Scoring goals. That’s what he does best. He’s the best goal scorer in the world. He wants to get more and more goals into his locker. And we’re very happy that he can do it every time he steps on the pitch. He’s also the top scorer for our national team. He wants to improve that number so no one can catch him. And hopefully for us, he’s going to keep scoring and tomorrow is going to be one of those days.”
13. PRESS CONFERENCE
14. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PORTUGAL MIDFIELDER, BRUNO FERNANDES, ON TURNING DOWN OFFER TO JOIN AL-HILAL, SAYING:
“There was that possibility, the president of Al-Hilal called me about a month ago to ask me about the possibility of my transferring there. There was a waiting period so that I could think about what I wanted for the future. Like I always say, I would be open to it if Manchester United thought it was time to move on. I would have been open to doing it. I spoke with coach Ruben Amorim throughout, and he tried to talk me out of going. I spoke with the club. The club said they would not be willing to sell me, it would only happen if I wanted to leave, but it was not an issue of finance. As for me, it was a very ambitious offer. The president spoke with me and he was really spectacular. I never spoke numbers with the president. This came later with the business side. And I just needed to decide after speaking with my wife and my family, to decide if it was what we wanted for our future. The only thing my wife asked me was what my personal goals were and what I wanted to do with my career.”
15. WHITE FLASH
16. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PORTUGAL MIDFIELDER, BRUNO FERNANDES, ON TURNING DOWN OFFER TO JOIN AL-HILAL, SAYING:
“Put simply, I want to keep myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions because I feel capable of doing that. And I want to be happy and do what I love to do. So, for better or for worse, I still really love this sport, but it’s the way I see soccer, my life and my future. And I am happy with my decision.”
17. FERNANDES LEAVING PRESS CONFERENCE
STORY: Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes turned down the opportunity to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in order to keep playing “at the highest level”, he said on Tuesday (June 3).
The Portuguese midfielder admitted that he had considered the move, which media reports said was worth four times his current salary, after being contacted by Al-Hilal’s president.
“There was that possibility, the president of Al-Hilal called me a month ago to ask me about it,” Fernandes, who is preparing to face Germany with Portugal, told reporters on Tuesday.
“It was a big offer, very ambitious. There was a waiting period for me to think about the future.”
Fernandes ultimately decided to stay at United and said he was motivated by his desire to continue playing at the top level and encouraged by his family and the club’s coach Ruben Amorim.
Looking forward to the Nations League match against Germany, Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said he expects an entertaining match with both teams playing aggressively.
“I think what we and Germany are able to do in the area is what will make the difference. It will be the minute details. So, I think for neutral fans, it is going to be a very interesting match,” Martinez said.
Though he has two matches to win before they can hoist any Nations League hardware, Martinez also said he is looking forward to the 2026 World Cup.
“I think it’s a match that we need to continue towards our objective which is to win international titles and now we have that chance. But on top of that, in just 12 months, we’ll have a shot at the World Cup. So, the idea I have is to look at the full picture and to keep preparing the squad to the highest level,” Martinez said.
(Production: Ayhan Uyanik, Kurt Michael Hall)
