Martinez: We responded as we should have, the players deserve this victory

Portugal defeated Uzbekistan 5-0, securing their first victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. After the match, Portugal coach Martinez praised the team's response following a poor performance in their opening match and discussed Félix's performance.

Martinez told LiveModeTV: "This is the response we needed to see in our dressing room. Sometimes a team needs to go through a match like the first one to continue growing. What we saw today was a team whose attitude and commitment hadn't changed, but they played more maturely and put aside the emotions that came with their FIFA World Cup debut. I'm very happy because the players deserve this result."

When asked if Félix had met his expectations, Martinez said: "It's unfair to judge just one player. What is certain is that everyone is ready to help the team. João has been training very well recently, and I'm delighted to see him enjoying football on the field today—his ability is truly excellent."

Regarding Ronaldo's goal, Martinez said: "It was only a matter of time. Ronaldo's movement in the box is exactly what a striker should demonstrate. Today he scored, but in fact, he has been creating chances in every game, and that is what matters most."

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