Rui Jorge was satisfied with the balance of 100 games ahead of the national under-21 soccer team, which faces Greece on Saturday, but stressed that the focus is on the “road” and not on the results.
The game against Greece will be Rui Jorge’s 100th as U-21 coach – the journey began in November 2010 – as the longest-serving European U-21 national team coach, during which he earned four phase qualifications. in the category (2015, 2017, 2021 and 2023), with presence in the 2016 Olympic Games.
“Of course it is good, it is a sign of continuity, it is a number that reflects a longevity that I like and that, apparently, has pleased the Federation. [Portuguesa de Futebol]”, he said, at the press conference, in the auditorium of the Braga Municipal Stadium, in anticipation of the welcome to Greece, which closes group D of the qualifying phase for Euro2023.
With 72 wins, 15 draws and 12 losses in 99 games ahead of the U21s, Rui Jorge admitted that the “balance is good”, but pointed out that his “focus is always another”. “It’s not the results, but the path we have to take and the tasks we have to perform, then the results appear,” he said.
Rui Jorge says that he does not think about training in clubs and said he is “full” in the position he holds and in what he does.
“It is a great pleasure for me and for my technical team to deal with these groups in these 12 years, in the players who have passed through here, who have left a legacy of quality of play and behavior, and I feel satisfied to lead this group. . and to be able to see great players with enormous talent, who today are the highest point in soccer worldwide,” he said.
Left-back Rafael Rodrigues considered this Thursday that Portugal is a candidate to win the European Under-21 Football Championship in 2023, and Rui Jorge was satisfied with the young player’s ambition, but refused “to give that request candidates or favourites. .
“Rafael is new to space, you can see [risos]. I think it’s great that he shows that ambition, but I think it’s even better that he shows it in every training session. Think what you want, but what I want from Rafael and everyone else is that in every training session, in every reading and observation they make of their opponents, they are attentive and manage to give their best. If they do and the coach helps, we can go up the stairs to get to an area that I know is very difficult to get to,” he said.
Portugal is already qualified for the 2023 European Championship in the category and closes group D, which will finish in first place, on Saturday, receiving Greece, in Barcelos, but Rui Jorge assures that the preparation is that of any match.
“We prepare with dedication, dedication and enthusiasm, so that they can show all the quality they have, and that is what I have been feeling on the pitch. Yesterday [quinta-feira]I found the intensity that several players, who could be on vacation, put into training very interesting. For someone who leads a group it is rewarding and a good sign,” he said.
The coach said he expects a 5x3x2 Greece, without changing his way of playing.
“We are going to want to dominate the game. In the playoff for second place, they have an advantage over Iceland if they get a point [sábado], so I don’t think they will change the way they play. I really hope that the kind of game that was there [vitória por 4-0]. If they manage to circulate the ball quickly, we will have difficulties in width, but it is a battle that we will have to win, ”he said.
Rui Jorge said he is not worried about the eventual loss of players against the A team.
“It doesn’t bother me, I came prepared and got used to it. For example, today we have the case of Zé Carlos demonstrating his potential and this happened because Vitinha went up a level and gave rise to another excellent player, who otherwise would not be here. Fortunately, in terms of the number of quality players, we are much better than we were 12 years ago,” he said.
The coach also praised the investment that Portuguese clubs make in training and pointed out that the increase in the supply of quality players available for the national teams “has a lot to do with it”. “We enjoy and drink from what the clubs do and how they are structured,” he said.
In this qualifying phase, Portugal has eight wins and one draw, 39 goals scored (best attack of all the groups so far) and two conceded (best defense, on a par with Belgium and France).
Portugal, first classified, with 25 points, and Greece, second, with 17, will face each other starting at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, at the Estádio Cidade de Barcelos, a match that will be refereed by the Englishman David Coote.
Source: Observadora
