FC Porto is getting ready to play the second leg of the semi-finals of the Portuguese Cup, at Estádio José Alvalade, against Sporting. At the preview of the match on Wednesday (20h30, SportTV), Sérgio Conceição talked of the ambition in going to Jamor, admitting that the team may be tired after the classic against Benfica, played on Sunday.

The blue and white coach thanked the strong support of the fans when leaving for Lisbon, before the match at Estádio da Luz, and admitted the Blue Sea is a “very important source of energy for the team”.

Objective: Jamor
“We are halfway through a potential qualification to the final of the Portuguese Cup, but we know how strong our rival, Sporting, is. In terms of strategy, our team has clear dynamics. As for the opponent, not so much, as they have been changing their tactic and dynamics. I can remember the matches against us. With some analysis, and caution about the opponent, we worry mostly about what we want and can do. Two months after the first leg, if I’m not mistaken, we are going to follow through, and we are 90 minutes away from reaching a clear objective of the team, which is to reach Jamor.”

The fatigue of both teams
"We played six or seven fewer matches than Sporting. We are in the championship, with four matchdays still to go. We are in the semi-finals of the Portuguese Cup, reached the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, Sporting reached the quarter-finals of Europa League, and both of us were in the final four of the League Cup, where they played one more match than we did, the final. We had a few problems caused by fatigue, like all team have, but I never used it as an excuse, as it’s part of the game. You know this. This is part of the life of a team, and these are natural consequences of playing with growing intensity. I don’t want to think of that. Sporting played seven more matches than we did, but that doesn’t mean more injuries or fatigue. Fatigue affects every team. We are in a vital stage, with great fatigue, but that’s a good thing. I’d rather have more matches to play and still be in the Champions League, for example. When Jorge Jesus address the match in Estádio da Luz, he wasn’t disregarding it or the teams.”

Focus on tomorrow’s match
“By the end of the season, I will talk of every situation and subject. Right now, we are focused on tomorrow’s match. I’m happy with the individual performance of everyone, but especially with the team performance. The great ambition and determination in our squad is clear. That’s isn’t just my work, it comes from the entire structure behind the professional football team of FC Porto. It’s still early to define anything, to conclude anything. By the end of the season, we will talk of that. So far, things have been going well, but what I like the most is the spirit, the desire in the team in winning titles, and that’s vital. After the match, that was clear in the players, and that’s the message. There are four matchdays to go, 12 points to fight for. We are switching from the championship to one of the objectives of the season. We can’t think of one competition playing for another. We are thinking of this match, we are aware of the fatigue and intensity from the last match, but now we are taking the best starting team to aim for Estádio do Jamor.”

Trying to score in Alvalade
“We need to go for goals. It will be harder for the opponent if we score in Alvalade. And we can’t forget of our identity. Nowadays, teams live too much of the preparation for each match. Details often make the difference, I believe. You can talk of luck, but luck is nothing more than to constantly seek for an opportunity. Sporting is strong as a team, they are a great institution, well coached by Jorge Jesus. With a board that has been doing a positive work in the last years. They are an institution I truly respect. I’m expecting a strong opponent. Before the first leg, I stated that all is forgotten when the results are positive, and Sporting has been getting positive results lately. I think it will affect nothing.”

On the physical condition of the players
“We will see tomorrow. You might think I’m bluffing sometimes, or that this is a communication strategy, but, when I said Marega was going to be difficult to recover, I meant it, but he just recovered faster. We knew how Marega and Corona were feeling, they were working conditioned, but with the team, preparing the strategy for the match. But we need to be careful on repeating the effort of some of the players.”

Fans are a source of energy
“You had the opportunity to see and even feel: the moment when we left Estádio do Dragão for the trip to Lisbon... our thank you in Estádio da Luz was our way to return the passion and belief of the fans. It’s fantastic. They make us feel a tremendous strength, apart from the one we already have. I’m 100% sure they will keep being a vital source of energy to the team. I want to thank them yet again for that.”