This Monday, Sérgio Conceição did the preview of the match against Roma for the first leg of the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League. At the press conference, held at the Olympic of Rome, the blue and white coach talked of a match with maximum demand for the Dragons, assuring his team is prepared to play a good match in Italy.

Returning to Olympic of Rome
“No matter what, of what I was as a player here, of the setting, which I know, my focus is on what we will find tomorrow, in a fantastic competition, where, historically, FC Porto is used to belonging. We are focused on giving a positive response, regardless of my past as a player or the recent past of the team.”

Marega injured and Corona banned
“I am paid to find solutions and not to be part of the problems. The injuries are part of the path of a team and no one ever heard me say that this or that result didn’t happen because this or that player wasn’t available. If that were the case, we wouldn’t have had the path we had in the championship and in the Champions League last season.”

The team’s experience in the Champions League
“The experience this group had last year was important. We have 180 minutes to play and we have to be smart in the way we go to the match, in the strategy we use, and we have to remain consistent and solid as a team. The opponent comes from an above average competitive context and they have interesting matches every week, in a demanding championship. We have to be at the same level and we are prepared for tomorrow’s challenge.”

Lorenzo Pellegrini’s statements
“I just noticed that Lorenzo Pellegrini stated FC Porto isn’t a top European club. Well, that’s true. We are a top World class! In the end, one of the teams will be happy, and I hope that’s FC Porto.”

Daily preparation for matches
“The team’s experience in the Champions League is important, but not decisive. Experience, by itself, means nothing. You need courage, commitment. We prepare the team every day so that everyone is ready for the Champions League and domestic competitions.”

Go further in the Champions League
“Our objective is to qualify to the quarter-finals. Roma had interesting players, they have the third best attack in the Italian championship, which means a lot, in a championship where teams are usually consistent on the defence. We need to remain solid and aggressive. The key to win the match is to be a cohesive team on the defence. After that, it’s up to us to try to shoot for goal and score, which will also be important tomorrow.”

Jesús Corona banned for two matches
“I’m not sure how UEFA evaluates the behaviour of players, or how a chairman guesses what the players dream of. I don’t understand the ban to Corona, who would be another solution for us. It would be important to have the maximum number of possible solutions to face this Round of 16 in the Champions League.”

The past as a Lazio player
“There is no special feeling in facing Roma, just because I played for Lazio. There is a special feeling for representing FC Porto. I am tremendously proud, every day, to represent this great club. As for what Totti said, it may have been out of bitterness for me, because I won six titles here in two years. I don’t know.”

Focus on tomorrow’s match
“My focus is on representing FC Porto. Obviously that, when I step on the stadium, I will remember my past in Lazio and the titles I won. It’s special to come to Rome and sometimes find and share unique moments with Lazio fans. But my focus is clearly on tomorrow’s match and on what we can and must do to get a good result.”

Marcano not playing in Rome
“I coached Marcano last year, I know he is an excellent professional and a fantastic human being. I have no idea why he isn’t being successful here in Italy. From what I know of him, he has quality to play in any team in Italy. I look at Marcano as an above average player.”