Portugal Coach Explains Why He Replaced Man Utd Full-Back with Nuno Tavares Amidst Fan Protest | OneFootball

Portugal manager Roberto Martinez tried to justify his decision to replace the injured Diego Dalot with Lazio left-back Nuno Tavares, which didn’t sit well with a large section of the Selecao supporters.

Diogo Dalot Replaced with Nuno Tavares

On Thursday, it was announced that the Manchester United right-back picked up a knock that put an end to his time in the Portuguese camp. The Spanish manager reacted by calling up Tavares who joined Cristiano Ronaldo and the rest of his compatriots in Yerevan as they prepare for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Armenia.

Portuguese Fans Wanted Alberto Costa Instead

However, many Portuguese supporters weren’t happy with the choice. According to Trivela.fr, these fans argued that Martinez should have replaced Dalot with another right-back, with many rallying around Alberto Costa. The 21-year-old is enjoying a superb start to the campaign after making the move from Juventus to Porto in July.

Roberto Martinez Explains Nuno Tavares Addition

Nevertheless, Martinez explained that he needed someone who’s capable of immediately integrating into his plans, hence why he picked the Lazio star who has already worked under his guidance during previous international breaks.

The former Arsenal and Marseille player has only made a single appearance with the senior Portuguese national team, coming on as a late substitute in the UEFA Nations League contest against Poland last November.