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Cristiano Ronaldo has hit out at critics and heaped praise on Portugal manager Roberto Martinez after their UEFA Nations League title win. Portugal defeated Spain on penalties in the final after the game finished 2-2 after extra time on Sunday, June 8.
Speaking to the media after the UEFA Nations League final win, Ronaldo backed Martinez, hailing him as one of the main reasons for their title victory. He added that the former Everton manager deserved more respect and said (via OJogo):
"What they did to the coach was not fair, they beat him up a lot. He's the right coach, the passion he puts into the games not being Portuguese, I respect him even more. He deserves it, it's about respecting him more and letting him work calmly, because after winning this competition, we have to have merit."
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Pedro Proença, president of the Portuguese Football Federation, also praised Martinez and dismissed rumors about a possible change in management. He said that they were confident about the manager staying until 2028 and said (via OJogo):
"I have never spoken. It has a contract until 2028, this board, although it has not made these contracts, will comply with these signatures. We are satisfied with the work of the coach. We never felt the need to go public to reassure, the coach knew well what we thought of his work. Now we are going to have a World Cup with many joys."
Roberto Martinez was appointed as the national team's manager after the 2022 World Cup, replacing Fernando Santos.
Cristiano Ronaldo claims he played the UEFA Nations League final despite injury
Cristiano Ronaldo claimed that he picked up an injury in the warm-up ahead of the Nations League final but still played. He said (via OJogo):
"In the warm-up I was already in pain but even with pain, I wasn't comfortable, but for the National Team, if I had to break a leg, I would leave. I gave as far as I could, I still managed to score the goal but it was a small touch I had in the warm-up, shooting. Now I'm going on vacation, recover and rest, it's nothing serious."
Cristiano Ronaldo was on the scoresheet in the game, scoring Portugal's second goal to help them equalize and take the game into extra time. He was taken off in normal time due to the injury as his side went on to win the penalty shootout.
