Martinez Disheartened by Close Loss in Copenhagen: “This Was Our Poorest Performance in Ages”

Roberto Martinez, the coach of the Portuguese national team, expressed his deep dissatisfaction with the team’s performance following their 1-0 loss against Denmark, stating it was “the worst match Portugal has played in quite some time.”

The only goal of the match, scored by Rasmus Hojlund with just 15 minutes remaining, sealed Portugal’s fate. However, things could have turned out much worse if not for the stellar efforts of goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who not only saved a penalty from Christian Eriksen but also made several crucial saves that kept Martinez’s side in the game, providing them with a glimmer of hope ahead of their Sunday clash in Lisbon.

“I think it’s the worst game we’ve played in a very long time”, Martinez lamented after the match.

“The atmosphere at the Park was fantastic. Denmark simply outperformed us in all aspects. They executed their game plan effectively because we allowed them to do so.”

“We struggled with our rhythm and failed to maintain possession. There’s a significant amount we need to improve on,” claimed Martinez, who was notably impressed by Denmark’s performance.

“The Danish players consistently had the upper hand over us. They were aggressive and denied us any opportunities. We simply couldn’t match their physicality,” acknowledged Roberto Martinez, emphasising the need for a significant shift in attitude for the upcoming return match.

“We need to bring rhythm and intensity to our play on Sunday. What we showcased today was far from the standard I expect us to achieve,” Martinez added.

He rejected the notion that Portugal was fortunate to come away with only a 1-0 defeat but conceded that without Diogo Costa, the situation could have been considerably worse.

“We must approach the game with a vastly improved intensity. We also require more from our star players on Sunday,” said Martinez.

Portugal will meet Denmark again in Lisbon this Sunday for the second leg of their encounter.