FC Porto returned home, had another player sent off and got another bad result, after losing 2-1, against Vitória de Guimarães, in matchday 28 of the League. After the defeat that left the team reduced to ten and 13 points behind the lead, with one more game than Sporting, Sérgio Conceição revealed that "the players feel damaged", regretted the "nerves" caused by the referees and asked the team for "tranquillity", but made it clear: "We have to do more and better".

Nerves and lack of tranquillity
“We look at what we couldn’t do, get to the last third, that last shot and scoring in situations that we constantly work to evolve the team, but the game is more than that. The players feel damaged and the truth is that this leads to nerves. Today was the reflection of that, the week was very difficult, the environment inside and outside... Galeno's play at the beginning is a tackle exactly like the one that gave Vitória their first goal. These situations unnerve the players, due to the history of the season, but it’s not the cause of this, we have to do more and better. We suffered 23 fouls, did six, saw one red and two yellow. There is a lot that is difficult to manage in a locker room full of young people and not so young players, like Pepe, who was sent off. We have to have peace of mind to be a team in our image and avoid nervous reactions that do not bring anything positive."

More of the same
“This is a reflection of everything that has happened, it is not easy for a group of young players. I took a good look at the derby in Lisbon, I saw a team losing and we had the possibility of getting closer to the second place, but with everything that happened today it was difficult. That's all I have to say.”

Refereeing issues
“Five minutes in, there is a clear penalty on Galeno, another one. I don't know what it takes to signal a penalty in our favour and when they are signalled they end up being reversed, as happened against Rio Ave or Estoril. Clear penalties in Arouca, in Bessa, nothing was given... it gets difficult. Outside the area, there are bad calls on fouls and inside the area no fouls are given. The players feel hurt by this, they lose emotional composure, and they shouldn't.”

Different criteria
“The first goal came from a less serious situation than the one in the area, with Galeno. I don't know if we would score or not, I know the game would be different. I’m starting to lose some of the joy and passion I feel for football, there's a lot of negative things, starting with what we didn't do and should have done because of the coach. It has been a constant, whenever we can get close to the front... it’s very difficult, but we will be here until the end, fighting and trying to evolve with the absences that are turning into a habit. Each of us has to give it our all in here.”

Courage only against FC Porto
“It’s clear to everyone: there was courage to send Pepe off, and he probably deserved it, but there was no courage to do the same to Di María or Hjulmand. There’s courage to send some off, but no courage for others, and this is what we have to deal with. This is Portuguese football.”