Certain victory for FC Porto today? Yes, I think we clearly deserve it. We had many opportunities to potentially close the game early, but we have to take into account that the level of the opponent we faced is very high. We competed very well in a fantastic atmosphere at Dragão, which pushed us a lot, and the players performed fantastically.”
Two completely different opponents; however, did the constructed game serve as some form of rehearsal for this challenge in which FC Porto also had to play a larger game? “I think that good performances and, naturally, the results – but above all certain levels of performance, the details and the spirit – always help. In a way, the good things we did in Viseu, with a lot of changes, what we did at the weekend and what we achieved today are, of course, interconnected. I’m very happy with the result and for getting the first points to start our journey in the Champions League.”
And will this journey end believing in FC Porto’s passage? “We’re going game by game. There are still four matches left to play. Now is the time to change focus, recover, calm our emotions and prepare for the trip to Guimarães against Vitória, which will be very difficult.”
A little while ago I was talking to Diogo (Costa) about a recovery of energy, of FC Porto’s battery, and he gave Gabri Veiga as an example: he took him off at half-time in Barcelos, rested with Académico and is currently in form, already in the game with Estrela and today. Was this moment of recharging some players’ batteries important for FC Porto to perform like this? “I really believe in this management and also in giving minutes to others, because after the game in Viseu many players started to gain playing time. Today Santi’s entry was fantastic; it is no coincidence that the 90 minutes he played brought him very good things. It was extremely positive on several levels. Regarding Gabri, this morning he was ill; when he left I told him that he must always be like this, to catch the same virus.”
Regarding Santi Giménez. Is there also a player of extreme intelligence, given the way he found Samu in the goal? “They did very well, had a great impact and were decisive in at least two moments. They competed very well. There are many good things to take away, both from the result and from the performance of all the players. These boys clearly deserved to achieve this first victory.”
Within all this merit of FC Porto that you are highlighting, what relevance do you give to the dead ball? Today FC Porto scores two goals following a corner kick, once again: “It’s always important. Today our two Polish central defenders had a fantastic impact. It’s something we work on intensely: we have an excellent department analyzing and preparing the small details very well to adjust movements. That’s what we did once again and, then, the quality of those taking the corner combined with the heading ability of the men in the box allowed us to score from set pieces.”
