The final whistle confirmed it: Portugal were European roller hockey champions. They had just defeated France in a fiercely contested match. On the sidelines, national coach Paulo Freitas, soon to take over at FC Porto, found himself overcome with emotion. His voice was thick with pride and relief as he spoke about his team’s performance, mentioning a “dreadful week” that had tested them all.
Speaking to RTP, Freitas shared his thoughts on the final game. He felt it didn’t quite reach the same high quality as the previous day’s matches, largely because of France’s determined effort. “France played with incredible heart, a strong spirit, and smart tactics,” he noted, giving credit to their opponents. Yet, the outcome was exactly what they had chased. “We are European champions,” he declared, beaming with pride. “I am so proud to lead this group of lads and to represent Portugal.”
For Freitas, this victory was more than just a title; it was the realization of a long-held dream. He spoke of wanting to bring happiness to every Portuguese person. “This is what I always dreamed of,” he explained. “It was about bringing joy to all Portuguese people. I am part of this journey, and I feel immense pride in being Portuguese and representing Portugal.” He emphasized that he never once stopped believing in his team.
“We went through a truly dreadful week,” Freitas confessed. He explained that fans are typically used to seeing Portugal consistently win, but this time, the path was tougher. “Today, we simply celebrate. This win is for us, for everyone who stood by us, and even for those who didn’t want us to succeed,” he concluded, a clear acknowledgment of the challenges and doubters they faced. The celebration, he stressed, was for all who believed in them.