THE Advanced André Silva today rejected that FC Porto continues without points in the Champions League football exclusively due to lack of effectiveness, but assumed that mistakes are paid “more dearly” in the main European club competition.
The Portuguese international, who joined the Porto emblem at the beginning of this season, returning to the club that formed him nine years later, previewed the reception to Nápoles, in the fourth round of the league phase, in which he expects difficulties.
“We have competed in the same way in the Portuguese League and the Champions League, but I believe that in the ‘Champions’ mistakes are more costly. The teams do not forgive any of our mistakes, it is a very demanding competition and the level is very high”, reflected the striker, in a press conference regarding Wednesday’s match, alongside his coach, Francesco Farioli.
Without any points gained in the first three rounds of the league phase, being part of the group of three teams still without points (along with Lille and Slovan Bratislava), the ‘dragons’ seek to reverse the negative trajectory and bring them closer to the national championship campaign, in which they continue with a total of 10 victories.
“We have to get the best out of ourselves at all times and we can never relax. If we are effective and don’t make mistakes, I believe we can be successful,” added the 30-year-old striker.
Asked about the statements made by President André Villas-Boas, who demanded an improvement in Porto’s performance in the ‘million-dollar’ competition, in the latest editorial in ‘Dragões’ magazine, André Silva subscribed to the ‘blue and white’ leader’s message, but rejected that the duel with the Neapolitans would be “of life or death”.
“I make his words ours. The president is the biggest figure at FC Porto, he is someone we completely respect. We have the same vision and we know that the demands that exist here are enormous”, he highlighted.
Regarding Napoli, André Silva highlighted the quality of the opponent, which he knows from his time in Italian football, at AC Milan, and highlighted the defensive organization of the ‘partenopei’.
“Serie A is very special when compared to the Portuguese League. I really enjoyed playing there, the teams attack and defend as a block”, he explained.
The forward also addressed the competition for a place at the forefront of the Porto attack, with Samu and Santiago Gimenez, considering that the fight for the title is positive for the team’s collective performance.
“At this club, the objective is always to win and the best team has to come in. We push for each other and, when one does the best, the other also wants to do the best. This makes us grow as players and as a team”, he defended.
FC Porto, 34th and second to last in the league phase, still without points, will host Nápoles, 22nd, with three, on Wednesday at Estádio do Dragão, at 8pm, refereed by the Englishman Michael Oliver.
