Pepe stands by comments

Pepe, no stranger to controversy, claimed after the match the Barca players went down easily, comments that angered Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta.

"If a player speaks about you and your team-mates like this, you feel offended," Iniesta said.

"I'm not theatrical in any way, and neither are the other guys. These comments hurt because they are a personal attack."

But Pepe was unmoved as he spoke today at a Portugal press conference before the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Russia and Northern Ireland.

"If someone is offended it is because the truth hurts," Pepe said. "I just said what really happened in the game."

Pepe's involvement against Russia in Moscow on Friday is uncertain due to a leg injury which saw him miss two days of training before returning today.

"We'll see how it goes tomorrow," Pepe said. "If everything is progressing well, I hope to play."