After recovering the lead of Liga NOS, FC Porto will focus again on the League Cup, with matchday 2 of Group C bringing a home match against Varzim, scheduled for this Wednesday (19h00, SportTV1), at Estádio do Estádio do Dragão. At the preview of the match, Sérgio Conceição assured the Dragons know the next opponent well, and warned to the need to win the match against the team led by his former teammate Nuno Capucho, coach of the current eighth in Ledman LigaPro. FC Porto has one point and is second in Group C of the League Cup, two behind Varzim, leader.

Always the Blue Sea
“The presence of the fans is as important as always at Estádio do Dragão, or away, as we are always followed by these fantastic fans. We have another match in a competition we want to reach the final and win. That is one of our goals, as this is a trophy that FC Porto hasn’t won yet. We’re not thinking that this trophy or that one is more important, but we admit the championship is our main objective, and that the Portuguese Cup is an historic competition that we cherish and respect. But we also want to win the League Cup, and, to win this competition, we will have to win the next match, as Varzim is coming from a victory from the first matchday, against Belenenses. We need to win to depend only of ourselves for the last match.”

Knowledge of the opponent
“We know Varzim and we looked at what they have been doing in the Second League. We saw them facing Belenenses and I believe many team from the first half of the Second League table can match many teams of the First Division. There isn’t much difference in the individual and team quality, as the coaches work well and there are great coaches in the Second League and in the Portuguese Championship. I follow the secondary divisions and I know their quality. We need to be aware and we know we will have a match where Varzim will pose difficulties in certain moments. We have to be prepared for them and aware that we have the responsibility of winning, regardless of who plays, as there may be some changes in the team. Whoever plays will surely give a good response, as you work here every day with seriousness, ambition and determination. That gives me guarantees for tomorrow’s match, regardless of who plays.”

Meeting Capucho again
“Capucho is a long-time friend. When he came from Vitória de Guimarães, I was upset a couple of times as I had to play as right fullback, so he could be the winger, and I didn’t like it. I hope to get a positive result tomorrow, so I can get even. Jokes aside, Capucho was an excellent player and I had the chance to share the locker room with him. He has quality as coach and he is trying to establish himself in Portuguese football, and I believe he has what it takes to do so, and maybe become an elite coach in the future.”