On Friday, Ruben Dias attended Portugal's national team press conference. In the first part of his remarks (divided into three sections due to length), he addressed the criticism directed at Ronaldo and other players.
Are you fully recovered? What do you think of the criticism you've received? Do you think it's justified?
"(Laughs) As my coach told you, I'll only answer the previous question. I feel great and I'm ready."
Ronaldo has faced significant criticism. What's your take on it?
"First, the criticism isn't directed at just one player. Ronaldo is certainly a target, but I believe we all share some responsibility. More importantly, I think what's happening is entirely normal. It's been this way since I arrived, and I expect it to continue."
It seems the outside world is divided: some support Ronaldo and the other players, while others criticize them. How does the locker room handle this criticism and the extreme rhetoric?
"Honestly, I haven't paid much attention to it. I haven't seen what you're referring to. There's too much speculation right now, and when results aren't satisfactory, speculation naturally multiplies—that's normal. But it doesn't shake our confidence at all."
"We never expect matches to go smoothly. I think it's better for difficulties to arrive sooner rather than later. Only when a team can constantly improve match after match can it win. I don't expect everything to be perfect. What matters most is staying grounded."
"Honestly, I'm completely indifferent to questions on this topic. For all of us, it's a non-issue. We know difficulties reveal our true character, and that's a positive thing."
"We see this as an opportunity to create something positive. My mind doesn't go there at all. When these issues come up, I simply ignore them. I don't believe anyone takes them seriously. This shouldn't even be a topic."
You watched the match from the bench. What were your observations? What does the team need to improve?
"There are too many analysts drawing conclusions about what went wrong. Everyone knows what didn't work well. We started strong, but gradually became complacent after scoring, losing our positional discipline. We lost the defensive intensity we should have maintained."
"We have excellent players who can make the difference in tight spaces. It's crucial that players are positioned correctly. We ultimately lost that discipline, and we're fully aware of it. Looking ahead, I only see the positives."
How does the locker room defend itself against criticism from all angles—public criticism, criticism of Ronaldo, criticism of players for not passing to him, and criticism of our performance? How do you protect the locker room from these attacks?
"You've disappointed me—I thought you were going to ask about the beach (laughs). As I said, this isn't an issue, just noise. It's part of representing the national team, and it's not important to us."
How's your physical condition? Are you ready to play 90 minutes?
"I feel great and I'm ready."
Martinez said after the Congo match that self-criticism is necessary. Has the team already conducted self-criticism to improve in the next match?
"Yes, this aligns with what I just said about understanding what happened in the match and what truly made us less dangerous. That's a fact—it's the conclusion from that same analysis."
Related links:
Ruben: All of us, including Ronaldo, have adapted to media pressure on the pitch