Portugal legend Ricardo Quaresma was keen to inject some balance after the country’s loss to Spain.
Portugal were knocked out of the World Cup 1-0 in the last 16 despite being one of the pre-tournament favourites.
Head coach Roberto Martinez has stepped away in response, leaving at the end of his contract.
A Nations League winner, the Spaniard came in for heat during the World Cup, particularly for his insistence on playing Cristiano Ronaldo at the age of 41.
However, Euro 2016 winner Quaresma was keen to point out the responsibility of the whole team, given their status entering the tournament.
Players like Bruno Fernandes came off their best career seasons, while Vitinha and Joao Neves won back-to-back Champions League crowns.
Quaresma puts Portugal blame on the players
Making the point, Quaresma said: “Our midfield… great players, great talent, but in this World Cup they were very weak.
“A very, very weak midfield. A weak attack, a lost defence…
“I can’t blame only Martinez because the players also didn’t give what they had to give.”
He went on to explain that the elite players shouldn’t have to rely on the coach.
He continued: “The big problem here is that obviously there’s a coach, but then you have to step up on the pitch and you have to be the coach.
“The coach can spend all week training on the left wing, but the game will demand you play on the right wing, and what are you going to do? Look at the coach waiting for him to say, ‘No, go to the right wing’?
“We’re talking about players who are at a very high level, considered the best in the world.
“I can’t be looking at the coach waiting for him to give me instructions telling me where I should go or not go. There are things here that I don’t understand.
“No one should disrespect the coach, but there has to be that personality and that character.
“Many times I hurt myself because I did what came to mind and what the game demanded of me, and of course there were coaches who didn’t like it and took me off. And that’s fine, those are their choices, they’re the ones in charge. But I did what the game demanded.
“And these players have enough morale to do what the game asks of them because nobody will bother them. Nobody will say anything if they fail, so why don’t they take more responsibility? What are they afraid of?
“The national team needs to sit down, see what’s going well and what’s going wrong, and bring in a coach who understands this.”
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