Ruben Dias: Criticism is not directed at one person; nothing unusual has happened with the team

According to Portuguese newspaper Record, Ruben Dias held a press conference ahead of Portugal's national team match.

On his physical condition, Ruben Dias said: "As the coach said, I will only answer the first few questions. I feel good and I am ready."

Regarding external focus on Cristiano Ronaldo, Ruben Dias said: "First of all, the criticism is not directed at just one player. Cristiano is indeed the center of attention, but I think all of us are being scrutinized. Beyond that, I don't think anything unusual has happened. It has always been this way since I arrived. I believe it will continue to be so in the future."

On whether external speculation affects team confidence, Ruben Dias said: "To be honest, I haven't paid much attention to it. There is a lot of external speculation, which is normal, and when results aren't positive, speculation naturally increases. But this will not shake our confidence at all. No competition is ever perfect, and I think the sooner difficulties arrive, the better. A team can only win in the end if it grows match by match. I don't expect perfection—what matters most is that we stay grounded."

Ruben Dias continued: "To be honest, all the questions surrounding this topic mean absolutely nothing to me. For all of us, this is not a problem. We know very well that difficulties are valuable, and through difficulties we will see what kind of team we truly are. We see them as an opportunity to build something positive. My thoughts won't dwell there. Even if it confronts us directly, I won't care. I believe no one should take this seriously—it shouldn't even be a topic."

On the team's previous performance issues, Ruben Dias said: "There are too many theorists analyzing where things went wrong. Everyone understands what didn't work well. We started well, but after scoring, we relaxed slightly and lost positional discipline. We stopped pressing the opponent effectively. We have very good players who can make a difference in tight spaces, so maintaining correct positioning is critical for us. We lost that discipline later. We're very clear about this. Looking back, I only see the positive side."

When asked if the beach trip had become a topic, Ruben Dias smiled and said: "You disappointed me—I thought you'd bring up the beach. As I said, this isn't a topic, just noise. It's part of playing for this national team. For us, it doesn't matter."

Ruben Dias confirmed again: "I'm fine and ready."

On the team arranging for players to visit the beach, Ruben Dias said: "I think this should never have become an issue. Much of the responsibility lies with you—with all of you—because those reading your coverage lack proper context. It's also your responsibility to report things accurately. I think this is perfectly normal and beneficial. Time is a key factor, and this works in our favor. As long as it's done properly, there are only benefits. The coach wasn't afraid to do this, even knowing you would report it the way you did. I respect that."

On his absence from the match, Ruben Dias said: "First, I didn't say the team lacked fighting spirit. I think it's more about us needing to respect our positions. It doesn't feel good to be off the field, but I trust my teammates and know we're all capable."

On facing a five-man defense, Ruben Dias said: "I've played against a five-man defense for most of the season. We must stay true to our principles. As I said, in this type of game, respecting positions is decisive."

On Portugal's potential, Ruben Dias said: "It's a feeling we have. We'll see if it becomes a reality. We know what we have and our capabilities—the key is translating these into on-field performance. We still have work to do."

Ruben Dias also said: "Respect positions. When we do this, we will be very threatening. We must continue to improve."

When asked a follow-up question, Ruben Dias briefly replied: "Others ask you, you answer 'Portugal'—that's it."

On media pressure, Ruben Dias said: "Neither positive nor negative. I shouldn't judge it. Each of us is accustomed to dealing with media pressure. I don't think anything new has happened. Even in difficult moments, everyone handles this situation from a comfortable position. I never see difficult moments as insurmountable obstacles."

On the conditions at the training camp, Ruben Dias said: "It's always important to feel at home. We're having a good time here and hope to stay as long as possible. We're very satisfied with the facilities."

At the end of the press conference, Ruben Dias said: "This is an answer that must be continuously demonstrated through games. If we don't feel confident on the field, there's no point in believing something. Confidence comes from overcoming difficulties. We know what players we have. For me, what matters is improving with every game and building that feeling in our hearts. Only then is it truly time to hold this confidence high."