Vitinha says Jorge Jesus’ influence on Portugal is already clear after the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder returned to the starting line-up against Denmark and scored his first international goal.
The 25-year-old headed in a Bruno Fernandes cross during the second half and delivered one of his best performances for his country, completing 90% of his passes.
“ The coach’s work is beginning to bear fruit, and that is clear to see,” Vitinha told RTP after the match. “I think I was very clear and, fortunately, things are going well. This is the way we want to continue.”
Vitinha also offered Portugal’s supporters an ambitious prediction ahead of their meeting with Norway.
“If the Dragao is completely full, we will beat Norway 4-0. That would be perfect,” he said in comments reported by Spanish newspaper Marca.
The midfielder said Portugal had remained focused on the match despite the controversy surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo.
“We tried to concentrate on the game and we succeeded,” Vitinha said. “We produced a great performance and I congratulate the whole team. Morale is very high, and when it is this strong, victory becomes closer even if things do not go technically as we would like.”
Goncalo Ramos also strengthened his claim to replace Ronaldo, scoring one goal and setting up another against Denmark.
The forward’s latest contribution took his international total to 13 goals, at a rate of one every 94 minutes.
“It is always good to score, contribute and create goals, but the most important thing is winning,” Ramos said. “We all have great quality, the coach has many options, and I am happy to strengthen my position in the team.”
Ramos praised the impact of Jorge Jesus, saying Portugal’s players now have a clearer understanding of their responsibilities.
“Jesus is a valuable addition, and we understand the game better now,” he said. “We know where every player should be, defensively and offensively, and that was evident in today’s match and the recent games.”
He added: “We are improving day by day, and this is an ongoing process. I like playing this way because it suits my style. Winning the ball back in dangerous areas also always brings us closer to scoring and creating chances.”