Pepe: “Portugal have strong possibilities to win Euro 2008”

Defender wants Ronaldo to join him at Real Madrid

Portugal’s Brazilian born central defender Pepe is in little doubt as to his team’s chances of success in the upcoming tournament in Austria and Switzerland.

“Portugal have strong possibilities to win Euro 2008,” said the Real Madrid centre-back.

Speaking at the training camp in Viseu, Pepe qualified his optimism by admitting “We must be aware of our worth, but also our weaknesses. We have to be humble and be ready to face up to difficulties. Almost any team can win. But if we have the right attitude we can win the championship.”

Fresh from lifting the La Liga title in his first year in the Spanish capital, Pepe was inevitably asked about the much speculated possibility of international team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo joining him at the Bernabeu Stadium.

“If he comes to Real Madrid he will be well received, just like I was. But only he knows his future. For now he’s my team-mate for Portugal.

“I would prefer him to be at Real, because it’s better to have him as a team-mate than as an opponent!”


Euro 2008 Portugal diary