Portugal manager Fernando Santos has rejected the notion that the match versus Wales in the Euro 2016 semi-final has an extra edge on it due to the showdown between Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.
Portugal and Wales have done extremely well to get to this point of the competition and now it gets serious, with a chance of making a final the reward for the winner.
Santos not getting involved in the Bale and Ronaldo hype
There is no doubt that Ronaldo and Bale are the stars in both teams but Santos says that it is about every single player, and not just about the two superstars, as he was reluctant to get involved in the hype.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Santos said "It's not about Cristiano or Bale" which many people are billing it as. Santos explained "all players in all teams want to go far," evidenced by the sides' never say die attitudes. Santos added that "we are not playing for the Ballon d'Or" and it is all about "playing for the final".
Santos continued to say that "there is no added pressure" as he feels that his players "have a lot of experience" to deal with the match as they "are used to this" with how many big matches they have been involved in the last few years.
So far at the tournament Bale has been very open to the media and hasn't been short of words, which has given the winger numerous plaudits. Ronaldo, on the other hand, has been a bit grumpy on the field and has lead to people questioning him, but Santos has defended him calling him a brilliant team player.
Ronaldo is 'unsurpassable' in terms of being a team player, says Santos
Santos believes that Ronaldo has been an "amazing example so far in every aspect of his game". With people eluding to the forward as a star who doesn't do his fair share, Santos disagrees and has called him "unsurpassable" in terms of being a team player.
The manager went on to say "the way he behaves on the training pitch" is great and he is on the "same level as every single player", motivating everyone in a bid to "make it to Paris and win the final".