New Portugal coach Jorge Jesus: “Ronaldo will not by a problem. I’ll do what’s best for the Seleção” | OneFootball

Jorge Jesus is presented as the new Portugal coach by the head of the Portuguese Football Federation Pedro Proença (Photo: FPF)

On 10 July 2016, Éder’s stoppage time goal gave Portugal a shock 1-0 victory over France in the European Championship final in Paris, and the nation’s first ever major trophy.

Exactly ten years after the most important day in the history of Portuguese football, Jorge Jesus was unveiled as the new Seleção coach at Cidade do Futebol today, following Roberto Martínez’s departure on Monday immediately after the World Cup last-16 defeat to Spain.

The 71-year-old Jesus signed a four-year contract and promised things will be different with him in charge.

PortuGOAL brings you the main quotes from his first press conference as national team manager.

Pride and thirst to win

“I’m a proud Portuguese and now I’m going to be the coach of 11 million people. Portuguese people filled me with pride during the World Cup, although not in a sporting sense… but I wasn’t here. Now I am and we’ve come to win.”

JJ famously said he would get Benfica playing twice as much as they had been when he took over in 2009. He was asked if the same applied now for Portugal.

“They have to play twice as well, otherwise everything will be the same. The quality is here. I have a lot of belief in hard work, in the players. Anyone who doesn’t agree won’t have a chance. That’s the starting point: hard work. We all have to pay a price if we want to win. The Seleção isn’t a place where you can come and see your friends and your family again. Hard work is the identity and the idea that we want to create.”

Tactics, playing style

“I’m not a big fan of playing with three midfielders in a 4-3-3. I like midfielders with more movement and dynamism. Everyone said we had the best midfield in the world, but where? Two play for PSG; the other one plays for United. Where was the best midfield in the world for the Seleção? At PSG, the ideas are different, with three forwards who pull the game towards them individually. Portugal doesn’t have that.

“My idea is to implement ideas that fit the characteristics of the players. I’m not going to implement ideas that aren’t suited for these characteristics. The coach often has to help the players. There are times when the players need help. As there is quality in abundance, I think I’m going to be there to help them.”

Cristiano Ronaldo

“Cris will never be a problem, either for the Seleção or for me. He’s a symbol of Portuguese football. I had the pleasure of working with him for a year. When I thought he should play, he played. When I thought he shouldn’t play, he didn’t. I didn’t even put him on the bench sometimes.

“Names mean nothing for me. I’ve coached two of the three best players in the world. I’ve never coached Messi, but I’ve coached Ronaldo and Neymar. One day I said to Neymar: ‘you’re finished’. I’ll do what I think is best for the Seleção.”

Managing egos

“There are big egos in every team. It’s much more difficult working with players who think they are great players, than with players who actually are great players. With these players it will be easy.”

Past differences with Bernardo Silva

“When Bernardo was with me it was the start of his career. Now he’s a fully formed player, a world-class player. There’s no problem. I’ve spoken to him. It’s easy working with great players.”

What would you have done differently if you were in charge for the 2026 World Cup?

“I don’t want to elaborate much on this. It would not be elegant. But I don’t want to hide from the question. Maybe what I would have done differently has to do with the importance of finishing top of the group, because playing against Spain is the not the same thing as playing against Switzerland. Let’s keep it at that.”

Is there a need to renovate the squad?

“Our Seleção has an average age of 28. There are only six players over 30 years old, and two of them are goalkeepers. I see no problem there. What counts is the quality of the players. If they are 17 or 18 years old and have enough quality, they will be integrated.”

What about the lack of time to train?

“Do you think the players won’t train’ That they’ll just come here to sleep? They will be training and there are many ways to do it nowadays.”

Age and the challenge ahead

“I’m 71 years old but I feel like a 50-year-old because fortunately I am healthy. I train myself for one or two hours every day. It’s going to be a tough challenge but I believe we will win. Football is not an exact science, but it’s a science. I’ve prepared myself well and studied for this challenge.”