koko💙❤️@KosisoVall
🚨Pepe on João Neves comments about Cristiano Ronaldo
“When we were playing together with Ronaldo at Real Madrid, and even back in the Portugal national team, they would always tell you to pass the ball to him no matter what. The whole game plan often revolved around getting him the ball. For so long, it has always been about him in the media, among fans, and even inside our own environment. That focus brought us a lot of success, but it also created its own pressures.
None of the Portuguese players has really said this out loud before, but Neves did. We were always scared to speak up at times, even when Ronaldo would make certain decisions in the national team setup which the coach would presume were the best thing for the group. I respect everything Cristiano has done for us he carried the team on his shoulders for so many years but João had the courage to speak honestly about the present.
Sometimes you just have to know you’re not that young again. I’ve been through that transition myself. Allow the young lads to enjoy playing, express themselves, and take the lead on the pitch. Then you can come on as a super sub and still make a big impact when the moment is right. You mustn’t always feel you have to be the star every single match. Football moves on, and the team evolves.
I’ve seen how important balance is after all these years. The young players need freedom to grow without constant pressure, and the veterans need to support that growth instead of dominating every situation. That’s how you keep a squad fresh and motivated heading into big tournaments like this World Cup.
A win for the team is still a win for all. Nobody is actually above a team. So I think I agree with João Neves we need this collective spirit, this equality on the pitch, if we want to go far. Respect for the past must go hand in hand with building for the future.”
