Roberto Martinez don confirm say im dey leave as Portugal coach after Monday 1-0 World Cup round-of-16 defeat to Spain. Di match bin happen for AT&T Stadium for Arlington, Texas, and substitute Mikel Merino score for di 91st minute to send Spain go quarterfinals.
Martinez, wey take over Portugal for 2023, bin get contract wey suppose end after di tournament. For im postmatch news conference, im tok say e no make sense to continue for di role, especially after dem also bin eliminate for quarterfinals for Euro 2024. Im tok: ‘Yes, this na my last game with di national team. I dey proud. I don have 45 games, and I feel welcomed for Portugal, and loved. E be memory wey I go carry forever.’
Di coach wey previously manage Belgium, Everton, Wigan and Swansea, deny say di round-of-16 elimination na failure. Portugal get one of di most talented squads for di World Cup, with midfield wey include Vitinha, João Neves, and Bruno Fernandes, plus Cristiano Ronaldo for attack. But Martinez tok: ‘We no fail. We lose game against team wey be one of di favourites. We show incredible individual talent. Winning or losing na about details for big games with big teams. You fail when you no try to win, and we try to win until di last minute.’
Martinez add say: ‘E no be only Portugal. No be many countries wey consistently reach di latter stages of World Cups. E dey very difficult to be consistent and qualify always. Dey be things wey make di difference, like ball wey hit woodwork. Dese na things wey decide World Cups.’
Di coach also defend im decision to keep Ronaldo, wey be 41 years old, for di whole 90 minutes. Im tok: ‘When you be team and you need goal, you no fit take Cristiano Ronaldo off. Im fit play 90 minutes, no problem. Im be presence, im open space, with deadball situation, anything for di box, e no go make sense to substitute am. For extra time e probably go make sense to use Gonçalo Ramos. But we need to keep di structure, e no be case to take your top scorer off during di 90 minutes.’
