This Friday, FC Porto conceded a tie in Moreira de Cónegos (1-1), for matchday 21 of the championship. Sérgio Conceição commented the “lack of efficiency” of the Dragons, but stated that the two ties in the League only show one moment in the season, assuring that he is certain that the blue and whites will be in the lead in the end.

Lack of efficiency
“We had a great first-half. Iker did only one save in the first-half, we had a few clear situations in the area. We created enough situations to reach the break in the lead. In the second-half, we didn’t go in as well, we allowed Moreirense to create danger. We conceded the goal from a set piece, and then continued to look for a goal. We were able to tie the match, and then had one or two more chances to leave with a victory. We are going through a moment where we create, we reach the goal, but can’t score. The difference is in the efficiency.”

Tactical change
“We had some interesting situations with the ball possession. Óliver moved to areas where he doesn’t go often, and so did Héctor. We played every match in the Champions League in a 4x3x3 tactic, there were no issues in those matches, as we had a great group stage. It’s just a phase, we’re creating goal situations, but we don’t score. I would be more worried if we weren’t able to set an interesting offensive match, like we’ve been doing. But the reality is that football is made of goals, and the result in the end depends on that.”

Credit to the team work
“We had a few situations to calmly win the match. I’m sure their coach will say the tie was fair, but we are aware that this is pretty much our tenth match since the start of the year. That’s a lot of matches. This was our 26th consecutive match without losing. The work this group has been developing should be praised. I am certain that this is just a phase and that, in matches with fewer goal situations, we will win.”

Looking at points in the end
“We work and analyse the things that aren’t as positive in the match. We are FC Porto, we are a winning club. Last year, we were in the lead for almost the entire season, we lost the lead with two months to end the League, moved in front again and, in the end, we became champions. We will see where we are when it’s all over. I’m certain that we will be in the lead."

The refereeing of Jorge Sousa
“I’m done talking about refereeing until the end of the season.”