Roberto Martinez thanks PSG for its ‘help’ for Portugal | OneFootball

Roberto Martinez, Portugal’s head coach since 2023, spoke to L’Equipe alongside the announcement of his squad for the 2026 World Cup. The list notably includes 4 Paris Saint-Germain players, as is often the case during international breaks: Nuno Mendes (23-year-old left-back), João Neves (21-year-old midfielder), Vitinha (26-year-old midfielder), and Gonçalo Ramos (24-year-old striker). The coach was asked to discuss what they bring to the national team.

Roberto Martinez: “Luis Enrique’s work is very important”

PSG and coach Luis Enrique will no doubt appreciate such remarks. Far from the conflicts sometimes seen between clubs and national teams, the Portugal manager knows how to acknowledge the importance of the work his players do in Paris. That is where they spend most of their time over the course of a season, and it is essential to their development.

Without question, Mendes, Neves, and Vitinha have grown a great deal at PSG and seem ready for any challenge at the highest level. They could well play a crucial role in a strong World Cup campaign for Portugal. Ramos cannot quite be included in the same category, as he has struggled more. That does not mean he has not improved, in his movement and combination play for example, but he is lacking some of the confidence that is so essential for a striker. Perhaps this World Cup will do him a world of good.

It is worth noting at PSG that Roberto Martinez is right to point out that other players have also improved at PSG in recent seasons. It is a fine endorsement of the work done by the club and by coach Luis Enrique. That is something that can also be highlighted in discussions with academy youngsters and potential new signings.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.