Portugal head coach Fernando Santos revealed how shackling Netherlands' Frenkie de Jong was a key factor in his side's Nations League final success.
The host nation emerged victorious at the end of the inaugural edition of the tournament, prevailing 1-0 at the Estadio do Dragao on Sunday thanks to Goncalo Guedes' strike on the hour.
Afterwards, captain Cristiano Ronaldo held the trophy aloft – just as he had done at Euro 2016 – as Santos further enhanced his reputation as a shrewd international coach.
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Midfielder De Jong, who is set to depart Ajax for Barcelona ahead of the 2019-20 season, was singled out by Santos as the man most likely to control the tempo for Netherlands – something the Portugal coach was not prepared to permit.