Portugal’s win over Denmark brought a first international goal for Vitinha and another indication that Jorge Jesus’ early work with the national team is beginning to settle into place. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder scored Portugal’s second goal, arriving onto a Bruno Fernandes cross, as the side continued to adapt to its new coach.
Vitinha was among Portugal’s most influential players on the night. His finish was his first for the senior national side, while his distribution remained sharp throughout the match, with a 90% pass-completion rate.
Afterwards, the midfielder said the squad could already see the benefits of Jesus’ methods. “The coach’s work is starting to show,” he said. “Things are going well and that is the direction we want to keep following.”
Clearer roles under Jesus
Portugal’s players are becoming more familiar with the positioning and demands required by their new manager, Vitinha said. He pointed to a growing sense of clarity on both sides of the ball.
“He has helped us a great deal and the ideas are clearer now,” Vitinha explained. “We know where our team-mates are meant to be, in defence and in attack. You could see that in this game and in the previous ones as well. It is a process, and we are improving every day.”
The PSG player particularly welcomed the aggressive approach to winning possession high up the pitch, a feature he believes fits his own game.
“I enjoy playing this way because it suits me very well,” he said. “When you regain the ball in dangerous areas, especially in the opposition half, you are naturally closer to creating chances and scoring.”
Focus kept on Denmark victory
Questions after the match also returned to Cristiano Ronaldo and an incident involving the forward during Portugal’s training camp. Jorge Jesus declined to discuss Ronaldo following the victory, while Vitinha chose not to expand on the matter.
Instead, he stressed the team’s response on the field. “We tried to focus on the match, and we managed to do that,” he said. “The whole team reacted very well. The spirit is excellent, and when a group has that, victory is always nearer even if the technical side of the game is not perfect.”
