Bruno Fernandes insists Portugal can still finish top after Denmark defeat

Bruno Fernandes says Portugal remain focused on finishing top of their group in the UEFA Nations League – League A despite their heavy 4-1 defeat by Denmark.

The Portugal captain and Manchester United midfielder admitted the setback in Braga was a poor performance, but said it had not ended their campaign. Portugal can secure first place with a positive result against Wales in their final group match.

Speaking to Portuguese broadcaster 11, Fernandes described the defeat as a difficult night which the team must use to identify and correct its mistakes.

Portugal failed to execute their game plan and were unable to impose their usual style, Fernandes said. He acknowledged that the side had not reached the required level and that several areas needed improvement before the next match.

The midfielder explained that Portugal rely heavily on their strength in the centre of the pitch, but Denmark succeeded in closing down the space in that area and prevented the hosts from making effective use of it.

Denmark also dealt intelligently with Portugal’s approach, making it difficult for them to play through the middle and create chances. That forced Portugal to search for openings out wide rather than rely on movement and passing through the centre.

However, Fernandes said switching the focus to the flanks did not produce the desired effect. Portugal became reliant on individual battles and crosses, despite knowing Denmark were capable of defending against that type of attack.

He also praised Denmark’s strength in those situations and their efficiency in front of goal. The visitors took advantage of the opportunities they created, increasing the deficit and making a comeback increasingly difficult for Portugal.

Fernandes did not attempt to downplay the result, accepting that Portugal made clear errors and that their overall performance was not positive. But he rejected the idea that the match offered nothing for the team to learn from.

The captain said the players and coaching staff must examine what went wrong, establish which elements failed to work and retain the positive aspects that were evident despite the scoreline.

Portugal had won each of their first four matches in the UEFA Nations League – League A, a run Fernandes believes demonstrates that they still have a genuine chance of ending the group in first place.

He said the defeat by Denmark should not lead Portugal to change their objectives or abandon their ambitions. The situation, he added, remained in their hands, with top spot to be decided by their performance against Wales.

Portugal need only one point from that match to guarantee first place. Fernandes called for the team to approach the fixture with positivity and determination, with the aim of taking the three points they missed out on against Denmark.

The Manchester United player said the appropriate response to the defeat must come through both the performance and the result in the next game.