World-2018: Leonardo Jardim sees Portugal as an 'outsider'

Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim, honored as Portugal's best coach in 2017, sees Portugal, the current European champion, as an outsider at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

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"I have the same feeling I had in the [2016] European Championship. Portugal enters as an 'outsider', and then during the course of the world championship is that you see who are the candidates to win, "he said.

Leonardo Jardim spoke in Lisbon after being awarded the 3rd Gala Quinas de Ouro, organized by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), the National Association of Football Coaches (ANTF) and the Professional Football Players' Union (SJPF) ).

The coach, who went through Nacional, Sporting Braga and Sporting, among others, commented on the climate of tension that has been experienced in Portugal, considering that "the controversies are part of the Portuguese tradition, because there are many passionate about football."

"But I think the championship is more balanced than last year. The three teams [Benfica, FC Porto and Sporting] have a chance to fight for something. And that's the most important thing, to talk about what really matters, what is football, its players and the public, "he said.

Regarding his future, Leonardo Jardim said he sees himself continue in Monaco, remembering that he has two more years of contract, although this season is not running like the previous one, in which he took the principality team to the title of French champion, after an interregnum of 17 years, and to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

The coach also said that it was very gratifying to win the Euro2016 in France, a country where there are many Portuguese emigrants, and the victory in the French championship last season with a team that, in addition to the coach, had Portuguese players João Moutinho and Bernardo Silva, now in Manchester City.

"I think it is important for our country, which is a country of football and has shown every year that it is at a level of excellence with regard to coaches, players, referees and officials," he added.