Benfica starlet shines, coach on Portugal v Bulgaria: We did... | OneFootball

Last night, the under-21 national team took an important step towards qualifying for the European Championship in their category. In a match where the team, which featured Gonçalo Oliveira in the starting lineup, defender from Benfica, defeated Bulgaria 3-0, Luís Freire expressed great satisfaction with his players' performance.

In statements to the national press, the coach began by highlighting some moments that could have made the match easier for the team: “The ball that hit the post right at the start could have helped unlock the game and then we created several chances without taking advantage of them.”

Still reflecting on what happened in the first half, Luís Freire told journalists what he said to the players during the break, which ended up having the desired effect: “I asked for more aggressiveness and after the 1-0, Bulgaria ended up giving in.”

After addressing the minor mistakes on the field, the under-21 coach showered his players with praise for their performance: “I can’t ask for more from these boys, who work hard and have a great attitude. They played a very solid game, hardly allowing the opponent any chances, and we’re on the right track.”

Proud of his team, Luís Freire said it was excellent to work with so much quality, highlighting Porto’s young promise: “He has a lot of talent, is happy with the ball at his feet, and ends up showing his quality with three goals in three games. But several others, like Mora, were also above average.”

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