I at all times snort once I hear tales and rumours about how Cristiano Ronaldo is a disruptive presence within the Portugal camp, as a result of that's all they’re: tales.
I spent a few years with him within the nationwide staff and I by no means noticed any issues. What I do know is that he’s not solely a fantastic skilled, however he additionally tries to assist all the opposite members of the staff.
Simply watching him gives you concepts of what you should do to achieve success, however if you find yourself with Cristiano you get rather more than that.
He’s the staff captain and has at all times been an expressive man, who talks loads, however on and off the sphere he additionally leads by instance.
So when he goes to the gymnasium earlier than everybody else, or does bodily remedy and prepares his physique and thoughts, then he drags everybody else with him as properly.
He led us and we adopted him. I do not forget that all of us did ice baths and saunas at 2 within the morning for him and, moreover serving to us get well bodily, the vital factor was that we did it collectively, the entire staff.
In addition to creating the best staff spirit, I at all times noticed it as a chance to be taught from the very best. In in the present day's recreation, you could have instantaneous entry to info and information, and gamers will do their very own analysis to search out out what works for them and what doesn't.
However Cristiano has the flexibility to talk with the very best specialists -on everything- on this planet and the great factor is that he’s glad to share it with everybody.
He’ll speak about something you ask him as a result of he desires to make you and the staff higher, and he creates atmosphere to work in.
'An animal that desires to maintain successful'
Picture supply, Rex Options
I’ve recognized Cristiano for a very long time, since we have been youngsters and have been collectively at Sporting, and he at all times confirmed a fantastic want to be the very best.
He was enjoying in a better class than him, so he was with me within the under-17 staff when he was 16. Again then he was already an immense expertise and everybody at Sporting recognised that there was one thing particular there.
Along with his ability, he at all times had a implausible mentality. I typically noticed him within the gymnasium after coaching, making an attempt to get stronger and quicker when everybody else had already gone residence.
He at all times wished to win too. He was so aggressive that he advised us he did extra push-ups than anybody else within the bathe after coaching, and naturally he did that too.
That drive is a part of him and it's the explanation he's nonetheless right here now, at Euro 2024 with Portugal on the age of 39. He's an animal that desires to maintain successful and successful. He's not solely the very best, however he desires to show it.
To have that mentality to maintain pushing so exhausting is unimaginable as a result of it takes an immense quantity of labor to remain at his stage, the very best stage, for as a few years as he has.
Cristiano is like that. Mentally he’s unbeatable. That’s the reason he has gained a lot and executed a lot, and of all of the issues that make him the participant and the particular person he’s, I’d say that’s his best advantage.
'We have been coaching like loopy'
I joined the Portugal nationwide staff at a later age (I used to be virtually 31 once I was referred to as up in 2014), however over the following eight years I had some unimaginable occasions with Cristiano.
I’ve excellent recollections, however the very best of all is when Portugal gained Euro 2016.
We have now to recollect how we began that event, with three attracts in opposition to Iceland, Austria and Hungary in our group.
After the draw with Hungary we knew we had certified in third place, however everybody was sad and saying what they thought wanted to be improved (and it wasn't simply Cristiano who was speaking then!).
Because of our unity we achieved it and you’ll't think about the extent of competitiveness we reached. In coaching it was as if we have been enjoying.
Gamers who weren't getting used as a lot have been coaching like loopy and ensuring they have been prepared in the event that they have been referred to as upon.
You may solely get someplace in a event in case you have a staff that thinks like that, and that's a collective factor.
As we progressed by way of the knockout levels, our religion and confidence grew after which the journey was accomplished once we beat France within the closing.
Nevertheless, the sport didn’t go as deliberate. With Cristiano within the staff I at all times felt that we might beat anybody, however he received injured early on.
All of us on the staff received collectively and mentioned, 'Pay attention, we're going to have to do that the exhausting means,' and it was very troublesome, however we did it.
Ronaldo's aim is only a matter of time
It was a really glad second and now I simply hope that Portugal can have the identical ending on this event, as a result of they’ve a fantastic staff.
From what I've seen of Cristiano in Germany, he's going to play an enormous position in making that occur.
Within the group matches his motion has been good, he has been in good positions and has had possibilities, or half possibilities at the very least.
I do know that for him typically an help is best than a aim, so I wasn't stunned when he determined to go the ball to Bruno Fernandes for our third aim in opposition to Turkey as an alternative of taking the shot himself.
He has been concerned in all places, serving to in defence and in link-up play. After all he additionally desires to attain due to the starvation he has, however that may come, it’s only a matter of time.
Portugal must transmit Ronaldo's values
I’m typically requested what Cristiano means to Portugal. For what he has achieved, he isn’t solely our greatest participant, he’s THE greatest participant.
After all, he's not only a sports activities determine. He's rather more than that. He's the flag of Portugal, probably the most adopted particular person on this planet and the man who can't go wherever with out being recognised.
It was at all times nice to be with him within the nationwide staff as a result of wherever we went, everybody got here to him. Everybody shouted “Ronaldo” however we might simply stroll round usually and go wherever we wished as a result of no one cared about us.
Fame has two sides and I'm positive it's not simple for Cristiano to cope with this, and never with the ability to go wherever, however he by no means let that have an effect on him, or us.
I’m very glad that he’s nonetheless a part of the Portugal nationwide staff and that he continues to combat for extra. We’re fortunate to have him and different nice gamers like Pepe, who’ve been there and gained all the pieces, to go on to the youthful guys, as a result of that data is significant.
We have now high quality in our squad, however what we additionally want is individuals who proceed with the identical values that the older gamers have, to take care of this nice ambiance on this event and past.
Crucial factor in soccer is to have a staff that performs collectively each in defence and assault. When you’ve got that spirit, that unity and that combat to go along with high quality, then you definately at all times have an opportunity.
José Fonte spoke to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan in Berlin.