This Thursday, Sérgio Conceição did the preview of the match against SC Vila Real, which will be played at the Complexo Desportivo Monte da Forca. The match for round three of the Portuguese Cup is played this Friday, at 20h15 (SportTV1).

After the brake in competition for national duty, FC Porto is preparing the debut in the 2018/19 edition of the Portuguese Cup, starting an intense and demanding cycle.

Stoppage interferes with the preparation
“Stoppages like this one always limit the work to prepare for matches. We had a lot of absences. I have some players that recently arrived at the airport and I haven’t seen them yet. That greatly affects the preparation of the match. The team that will play this match reflects that, with the players that had the opportunity to work during the week on what the strategy for the match will be.”

Statements made by Pinto da Costa on Herrera’s renewal
“That happens in every club, we had the same thing last year with one or two players. What our chairman says is the rule. As for the player, I talked to him about the match, about our daily work, and nothing on what was out in the press. There are always one or two comments on it, but our focus is Vila Real. All that is being said, like I’ve explained in the past, stays outside of Olival. We are keeping an eye on it, we hear what is said, but our focus is on our work.”

The dream of winning the Portuguese Cup as coach
“We need to be prepared for these matches, in a competition that I deeply appreciate and care for. I had the opportunity to win the Cup as a player at FC Porto. I said it last year already: I have the dream of reaching the final of the Portuguese Cup and win it as coach.”

Prepare with maximum respect for the opponent
“In a club as is FC Porto, you have to win every competition. We prepared the match with seriousness, with limitations, but with maximum respect for an opponent that deserves it. It’s not because we’re facing amateur players that we will be any less respectful. There are no easy matches, every team works well. There is a difference in quality, but, sometimes, there are matches balanced by the motivation of the smaller team.”

Demand and responsibility always present
"Going in with the FC Porto crest isn’t enough to win. We will face eleven men on the other side of the pitch, who surely want to make history and eliminate a club such as FC Porto. We are aware of that. That motivational demand must be present in the match and so does the responsibility of qualifying.”

Match played in Vila Real
“This isn’t the will of the clubs, it’s the will of the Federation, who must check the pitches, and stay in accordance with television broadcasts. We are going to Vila Real and it will be a celebration for the people there and for the players. We have to play where it was decided.”

Offering the tickets money and helping in the treatment of the grass
“Usually, in the round where the big clubs are brought in, the money from the tickets is offered. As for me, I only cared to ask about the grass, and I was told our staff would be helping with that, so the show isn’t damaged. That’s what I was told. But even if it’s not in the best condition, that’s where we have to play and win, that’s all.”

On the defeat for the last matchday played for the League
“I talked to some players at the start of the week. We will have the opportunity to talk more after the match against Lokomotiv and before Feirense. For now, we have the Portuguese Cup, after that the Champions League, and only then will we talk of the championship. Our work is to always look for perfection. We always want to improve.”