Bruno Fernandes is eager to deliver a resounding victory in front of Portugal’s home crowd.
The Portugal captain was deeply disappointed with their performance in the first leg of the Nations League quarter-finals against Denmark. However, he remains confident that his team can bounce back in the second leg. To achieve their goal, Fernandes has emphasized the need for key improvements.
Portugal’s Struggles in Denmark
Portugal suffered a frustrating 1-0 defeat in Denmark on Thursday, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernandes, and the rest of the squad failing to make an impact. The home side dominated the match, a fact reflected in the statistics.
Despite having more possession, Portugal lacked cutting edge in attack. The 2019 Nations League champions managed just eight shots, only two of which were on target. In contrast, Denmark unleashed 23 shots, with nine testing the goalkeeper.
Had it not been for some brilliant saves from Diogo Costa, Portugal could have lost by a larger margin. His efforts have kept Portugal’s hopes alive, especially with the second leg set to take place on home soil—something that gives Fernandes extra confidence.
Fernandes Stresses the Need for Aggression
“We weren’t surprised; we knew they would play attacking football… but we lacked aggression in our game. We needed to be stronger in the battle for possession.”
“We have a tough test ahead to stay in the competition, but we are determined to win. And with our home crowd behind us, we can definitely turn things around.”
Portugal will host Denmark in the decisive second leg in Lisbon on Sunday.
