This Wednesday, FC Porto faces Liverpool, for the second leg of the quarter-finals of the Champions League, at Estádio do Dragão (20h00, TVI). At the preview of the match, Sérgio Conceição stated this will be a difficult match, not just for the disadvantage conceded in the first leg, but also due to the decision of the Liga Portuguesa de Futebol in scheduling the next match of the Dragons for Saturday (20h30). Still, the blue and white coach assured the team is motivated to try to overcome the round and assure a spot in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

2-0 disadvantage from the first leg
“It’s hard to prepare the match, not just for the disadvantage, given that we are two goals behind, against a team that is strong in the counter-attack. We need to be able to read the different moments of the match, when we attack, when the opponent recovers the ball and moves to the attack quickly. They have a very interesting team dynamics and, individually, they have strong players for those moments. They are also strong in the way they position themselves, with constant changes, very mobile, and that control of space will be fundamental for us. And obviously, we need to be efficient when we get to the attack, getting close to goal knowing that we will have to capitalise any situation we create, something we missed last week.”

“But there’s also the added difficulty of preparing the match for Saturday, against Santa Clara. As there are no matches on Sunday, the League, almost on a whim, scheduled our match for Saturday. Let’s imagine that, on Wednesday, the same thing that happened against Roma repeats. So we go into extra time, and, on Saturday, we have a decisive match, as every match for the championship is. This is a whim of the League, to balance the schedule of the other team that plays for Europe. This doesn’t make any sense. You even have the example of the Netherlands: when they faced Real Madrid, Ajax didn’t play for the championship, they rested, so they could be at full power. That’s called protecting a team in the biggest club competition, a team that, perhaps because of that, is in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. I don’t know what we want from this championship, or who decides this, but the League has to explain why we can’t play on Monday and why teams that fight for the Champions League, in this case FC Porto, aren’t being protected. This is also a concern for me in terms of preparing the match; it’s not that I’m thinking of two matches at the same time, but I have to look at our main objective, the championship.”

The key to victory
“When I was a player, I respected what I was told and I gave everything to make sure that I did what the coach wanted so we could win when the match was over. Here, the coaching team shows the way, the strategy for the match, what to do with the ball and when you don’t have it, where to apply pressure, where to push the opponent, we work on all of those, but then it’s up to the player to read what we want and do it, as they are the ones responsible for everything good that happened so far. So that’s easy, and it’s like that everywhere: coaches work and train the strategy for the match, but then the players execute it. I can’t go in there and score, I would if I was given the opportunity but I can’t. So if the players can’t do better, it’s not because they don’t want to, it’s just that sometimes the ball hits the post or goes out instead of in.”

The team to face Liverpool
“Considering our current moment, considering what the match tomorrow will be, and considering the match for the championship, I feel like saying I’m not sure, given this surprise the League has for us. We’ll see. The official explanation we were given is that we played against Sporting de Braga on Saturday, when we should have played on Friday, but we still had players coming from national duty, so the best they could give us was Saturday at 15h30. So they couldn’t help us twice, they couldn’t do anything this time, so we have to play on Saturday.”

All victories at home in the Champions League this season
“The work is ongoing, we don’t think of what may or may not happen in a match and of a more or less positive result. We think of the quality of the players at my disposal and of the ambition and determination they have in each match they play. Obviously, on an emotional level, there is no bigger motivation than playing the quarter-finals of the Champions League, with the possibility of achieving a historic turnaround. The competition itself is enough to motivate the group, but we wouldn’t need it, as our motivation is our daily work.”

An opponent with quality
“I think Liverpool plays according to what I think football should be. I like their dynamics, their tactic, how they play, with and without the ball. It’s a lot how I see football. In my opinion, in many of those moments, they might be the best in the world, no question about it.”

The Hillsborough tragedy
“I want to leave a word for every football fan, especially Liverpool fans, as yesterday was the 30th anniversary of a tragedy, a dark moment in football. Comparing it to any match is impossible. My sympathy for them.”

Two matches as reference
“We need to be a strong team, both on the attack and the defence, remain balanced, focused and play as before. I remember two of our best matches in terms of approach to the strategy and in terms of expected individual performance. The match against Leipzig, at home, last season, and the match against Roma, this season, for the Round of 16 of the Champions League. I feel that, if we are at that level, we will surely create difficulties to Liverpool and we will surely have a word in this round.”

Brahimi in the starting team
“Those who play are happy, those who don’t are a little less happy, and those who stay at home are even less happy. It’s part of every group and of everyone’s ambition. What would really bother me is to see a player on the bench or on the stands happy and smiling. On the pitch, it’s easy to see, when he is called, Brahimi has been giving a great response, because he is a great professional, a great player and a man that feels his job. And I like that type of player, with character, with personality, professionalism and eager to be better each day. That’s important for me.”