Feeling after defeat: “Frustration, the first half wasn’t perfect, we couldn’t press, we were reacting to things, it seemed like we were always one step behind. In the second half we corrected almost everything, but we ended up suffering, we could have made other decisions.”
Lack of team effectiveness: “With the chances we had, at this level, we have to score, it’s the details again. We have to learn to move forward. Until the goal, we played with a little anxiety, without anticipating. After suffering, we have nothing to lose and we have to go with everything. Last year, we won because we were always at our best and the message is that, we have to stick together, that’s what we did last season, when we went through difficult times and ended happy. None of us are going to sleep tonight, but we’re going to work do the best we can to bring joy to the fans and I ask them to support us.”
Lessons to be drawn: “We have to think about the present, we are a team that is constantly learning and the most important thing now is to think about Gil Vicente.”
What was missing from the team in the first half? “It’s painful. We started with the wrong intensity in the first half. We lacked energy and tactical rigor. There were some things we didn’t do well, but we defended very well, despite the opponent having a lot of possession. Still, we had two good opportunities. In the second half, we conceded a goal and tried to react, putting more pressure on the opponent. We created several good opportunities, but we lacked conviction in finishing. Against an opponent of this quality, the few opportunities we had had to result in goals. In the second On the other hand, we controlled the game and, despite the goals we conceded, we didn’t allow the opponent many opportunities. It’s difficult to accept this defeat, especially because we have mixed feelings about our performance in the championship. We are having an excellent campaign in the championship, but in the Champions League, things are not going the same way. We have to continue to believe, but we also need to keep believing. of our fans. Last season, we went through many difficult moments and we managed to overcome them because we stuck together. That’s why we want to win the championship and that’s what we need now: for the fans to be with us and support us. It’s clear that the demands are great, because we are at a great club, but without unity, without supporting and encouraging each other, we will not be able to achieve these goals. the team and the fans celebrating together. In difficult times, we were united and supported each other. That’s the message I want to convey now.”
Do you agree that there was anxiety among FC Porto players? “We weren’t proactive enough. When we lose a small advantage, when we arrive a little late to a move or miss the right moment to win or recover the ball, that makes a difference. Maybe we have to be more prepared and better anticipate the events of the game. Our pressure wasn’t the best in the first half. We tried to correct it during the game, but it was difficult to make the necessary adjustments due to the noise and communication difficulties. Still, in the second half, we were much better. Diogo was right when he said we were playing a lot, because we had the physical capacity to do so. However, I believe that if we anticipated the moves better and read the game with more quality, we could have avoided some mistakes. This would have allowed us to have more energy and ability to attack, finish the plays with greater conviction and be more effective.”
Is the game with Napoli a final for FC Porto? “No. Right now, our next game is against Gil Vicente in Barcelos. We’re going step by step and we’re focused on that match. We can’t think too much about the future. The next game is always the most important. We have to recover well, analyze what happened tomorrow and prepare the next challenge calmly and methodically. I’m sure that, with this group of people – coaches and players -, we’ll be able to react. I know what we demand from each one and how hard we all work to live up to the expectations of our fans. The fans You can be calm about our commitment, because none of us will sleep well tonight. We lost a game and we know what that means for us and our fans. We are not used to losing and we feel the weight of this defeat. So I ask everyone who supports us to stay calm and stay with us.
