Portugal's coach shares squad news before Super Eagles match

Portugal’s head coach, Roberto Martínez, has shared an injury update on his team ahead of Saturday’s friendly match against Chile.

This update comes with worries about the fitness of Manchester City midfielder Matheus Nunes just days before Portugal plays Nigeria.

Portugal will welcome the Super Eagles on June 10, a date that also marks Portugal Day. This holiday honors the famous poet and national figure Luís de Camões.

During his press conference on Friday, Martínez confirmed that Nunes is not fit and will not play against Chile. The coaching staff does not want to take any risks ahead of the World Cup.

Nunes was also an unused substitute the last time Portugal faced Nigeria in November 2022. In that match, João Félix played the full 90 minutes.

“Unfortunately, Matheus Nunes is not yet fit to train, so he is out of the squad for tomorrow (Saturday). It’s not the time to take risks,” Martínez said, according to A Bola.

“We hope Matheus will be fit for the second game against Nigeria.”

Positive news for João Félix

There is better news for Félix, as the Chelsea forward is expected to have a final assessment before a decision is made on his fitness.

“João Félix will train, and we will make a decision after training, but I think it’s a different situation. I feel it’s positive and that he will be fit to play tomorrow,” Martínez added.

Looking ahead to Nigeria

While Portugal is focused on Chile, Martínez knows the Nigeria match is an important part of their World Cup preparations, both in tactics and in mindset.

The coach mentioned that his team is watching other teams they might face in the World Cup, especially group rivals Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.

“I love watching football and following many national teams, but right now we’re only following our direct or indirect opponents: Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia,” Martínez explained.

“Colombia is a team that is very clear in what it does and plays very well; it’s a team I really like. Congo is also showing tactical flexibility, while Uzbekistan is working very well with the new coach and is very competitive defensively.

“Tomorrow’s game will bring many important aspects in terms of individual duels. We are enjoying the preparation period and looking forward to playing in front of our fans, which is part of the process.”