Same team, new ideas: How Jesus has reshaped Portugal
Portugal enjoyed perfect start to life under Jorge Jesus. The Selecao das Quinas got their UEFA Nations League campaign under way in impressive fashion with four wins in as many matches: 1-0 against Wales, 2-1 against Norway, 4-2 against Denmark and another 2-1 win over the Norwegians in Porto.
That run of results has already seen Portugal qualify for the next phase and sets them apart as one of a small group of teams to have picked up 12 points so far in the Nations League. Their goal difference – nine scored and four conceded – further underlines the consistency of the football they have produced.
Cristiano Ronaldo's mid-window departure from the Portugal camp failed to derail his country's progress, with Portugal emerging as the only team inside the FIFA top 10 to climb the rankings in the latest update on Wednesday.
More than the numbers, though, it is the manner of Portugal’s victories that has impressed, particularly given the quality of their opponents.
Erling Haaland’s Norway, one of the standout teams of the last World Cup after knocking out Brazil on their way to the quarter-finals, were beaten by Portugal twice – including in Oslo, where they had not lost since March 2024. Denmark also succumbed to Portugal’s intensity, acknowledging their technical and tactical superiority.
But how has Jorge Jesus managed to reap such rewards in a tenure that only began in July? And how has he done so without making major changes to his squad? FIFA look at some of the key factors below.
SAME TEAM, NEW IDEAS
Jesus’ squad contained just four new faces who were not involved at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Asked about that continuity when he was announced as Portugal coach, Jesus was very clear: the names may be the same, but the ideas are not.
And so it has proved. Of the four players who did not go to the World Cup, only Joao Palhinha has played significant minutes, but the coach has shown that the system is what makes the difference.
“I don’t have a group in my hands. I have a group that believes in the coach’s ideas," Jesus said. "They believe in my ideas and, because they have so much individual quality, things become easier."
Speaking to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, fellow Portuguese coach Renato Paiva, currently in charge of Santos Laguna, analysed Jesus’ approach with Portugal’s star-studded squad: “I see a more organised team, with the players in their right positions. Before, I felt they were being used with adaptations, but now their individual qualities are being maximised.”
Norway coach Stale Solbakken, meanwhile, has witnessed the impact of Portugal’s football over the past two weeks more than most: “Portugal are perhaps, along with France and Spain, one of the three best national teams in Europe at the moment.”
HIGH PRESSING
Beyond the players’ positions, the biggest tactical transformation that has been felt by opponents is the intensity of Portugal’s pressing. Denmark coach Brian Riemer admitted, “Today, perhaps we were surprised by more aggressive pressing, and that made our job more difficult. Portugal are Portugal. The individual quality is tremendous.”
Paiva also highlighted the new approach and added another factor that could become even more prominent as Jesus continues to work with the group: “Portugal have clear ideas, they press high and want to win the ball back, sometimes even bordering on man-to-man marking, which is really popular at the moment.”
Chemistry up front
Felix and Goncalo Ramos have shown an understanding and efficiency when they play together. Felix – one of the standout performers of Portugal’s international window – has been given greater freedom to drift across the attacking areas, essentially operating as a second striker. He says he has always regarded that as his best position, and the idea had already worked well under Jesus at Al-Nassr.
Ramos, meanwhile, scored in three consecutive matches for Portugal for the first time, with his latest goal proving to be the winner in the second match against Norway after he was set up by Felix.
“A minute or two before the goal, I drifted towards the right, and the coach told me to get into the box. Two minutes later I scored and he said to me, ‘See? I told you,’” the striker said with a smile, revealing the understanding he has developed with his new national-team coach.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Paiva recalled the origins of the partnership from their days together at Benfica’s youth academy: “They played like this when I was their coach with the [Benfica] U-17s. The secret with Joao Felix was putting him in his natural position. He arrived at the club as a winger because of his slighter physique. We started using him as a winger, but we quickly saw his ability to create and score, and he moved into the second-striker role.”
Consistency at the back
To support this more aggressive approach going forward, Jesus has shown confidence in the solidity of his defensive line. Goalkeeper Diogo Costa and centre-backs Reben Dias and Renato Veiga were the only players to not miss a single minute of this window, while Joao Cancelo and Nuno Mendes also started all four matches.
While distractions, most notably including a supposed in-house rift with captain and superstar forward Cristiano Ronaldo, looked likely to dominate Portugal's window, Jesus' side have quietly enjoyed a fruitful four-match spell and can consider the beginning of this new era a successful one.
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