This Monday, Sérgio Conceição did the preview of the classic against Benfica, for the semi-finals of the League Cup. FC Porto is going to Braga to fight for the qualification for the decisive match in the competition.

At the press conference, the blue and white coach assured his team is prepared to face the reds. Benfica-FC Porto is played on Tuesday, starting at 19h45.

Win the second title in the season
“At first, this competition was somewhat disregarded, but, right now, you see the first four in the championship table fighting for the semi-finals. I’m expecting a difficult match, like classics are in Portugal, and we prepared the match the best we could to reach the final, although not with the time I had hoped for. We want to win the second title in the season, but first we have to beat Benfica.”

Keeping an eye on Benfica’s changes
“Their moment is better and we know there will be one or two changes in the team. We are prepared for the battle. We basically need to worry about ourselves, about our team, thinking of what we want and have to do. As for Benfica, you can tell the mood is better, after four consecutive victories. There is a natural motivation in the group with the change, and their competitiveness is higher. We are keeping an eye on that and the way they play, a little differently in comparison to the recent past. It’s up to us to know what to do to reach the final. We need to concentrate and worry about our team, look at ourselves, at their weapons and also at their weaknesses, which every team has.”

On Wilson Manafá
“Manafá is a young player, a Portuguese player, with an interesting path and a good alternative for his features. I had been following him for a while and I talked to his coach at Portimonense, Folha, more than once, to know what he is like as an athlete, not just what he does in the 90 minutes. We felt it was best to sign him, and I think he will be a good solution in several positions, which is also an asset for him, as he can play on either wing, in the front or the back. He has to learn, to get in this spirit that is FC Porto. We are here to work on that.”

Calendar doesn’t protect the players
“I’ve been saying that for a while now. The players aren’t protected right now and that can have a major impact on their careers, given the amount of matches and the intensity football has right now. We could have a different calendar, without a doubt. These are subjects that need to be discussed, not just by coaches, but by other people with the responsibility of thinking of football.”

The weight of playing on neutral grounds
“Fans have been following us everywhere. No matter if we played in Lisbon or Faro, the space meant for FC Porto fans would still be full. We always feel well. We just have to wear this shirt and have this crest on our chest to feel at home.”

The eventuality of a penalty shootout
“I was late because we were working more on set pieces, which may happen. Last year, there was a coincidence that we were eliminated from two competitions in penalty shootout. I think we didn’t deserve that, but football is what you get, and the reality is that Sporting qualified, won a League Cup and lost a final of the Portuguese Cup to Aves. If we eliminated Benfica, we will see who we get in the final. I didn’t even address the match from last year in my talks about tomorrow’s match.”

Final Four of the League Cup will have VAR
“Everyone agrees VAR is an important tool for the sporting truth. We have to congratulate the Federation for being one of the first countries to have it”