Martinez happy with how Portugal handled Vitinha´s first-half absence

Roberto Martinez was delighted with how Portugal handled Vitinha’s first-half absence in their 0-0 draw with Mexico.

Vitinha came on as a half-time substitute in Saturday’s stalemate in Mexico City.

Despite not playing the full game, Vitinha recorded the second-most touches (74) of any player, while attempting (70) and completing (67) the second-most passes.

No player played as many passes into the final third as the Paris Saint-Germain star (27), either.

But Martinez was still pleased to see how Portugal managed without the playmaker in the first half, in which they posted 0.63 expected goals (xG) to Mexico’s 0.12.

“Vitinha is an excellent player,” Martinez said. “He knows how to control the ball, defend the game with the ball, and take the game where we need it to go.

“We wanted to see if we could see Portugal controlling the game without Vitinha. And I was very pleased. But yes, it’s true that he’s a key player for us.”

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With Cristiano Ronaldo absent from Portugal’s squad due to injury, Paulinho, who now plays in Mexico with Toluca, came on from the bench for his fourth cap.

The 33-year-old did not manage to have a shot, but Martinez was impressed with his display.

“What surprised me wasn’t what he can bring to the national team, but how quickly he understood the group,” Martinez said of the striker.

“He integrated very well into the locker room. He’s a player who would fit well in any national team in the world.

“The problem is that here, he has in front of him perhaps the best player of all time for Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo, and a player like Goncalo Ramos, who won the Champions League.

“It was very good to work with him, and today he showed that he’s in the best moment of his career.

“He’s a very intelligent player who creates space with his final movements, and it’s very good for us to have a player like him.”