Portugal’s captain said the national-team coach was the right choice for the role while responding to a dispute around the current training camp. In a public statement, the captain recalled being asked for his opinion when the federation was considering the appointment and said the team’s results had supported that decision. The comments separated his support for the coach from the disagreement that led to his absence from the camp. The captain and coach also worked together at club level last season, according to the source. The statement puts the focus on Portugal’s sporting direction rather than escalating the personal disagreement. For the federation, the immediate challenge is to maintain clarity around selection and preparation while the team moves through its next competitive commitments.