FC Porto lost 2-1 at Estádio Municipal de Famalicão and Sérgio Conceição takes the responsibility for the result. The blue and white coach talked of the statistical superiority of the team, but stated that, if the Dragons want to become champions, they have to “give more than this”, as “just one mistake can put everything to waste”. “We have to be stronger on the pitch, we have to be stronger off the pitch”, Sérgio Conceição stated, adding his clear opinion on the potential hand on the ball inside the opposing area: “I think it’s obvious, at least for me, watching the play on TV, it was a penalty”.

The lack of focus was an issue
“I think that we were better in everything, statistically. But matches aren’t won on statistics, they are won by competitive team, with a winning mentality. From the moment we missed some clear opportunities to score, in the first-half, facing an opponent that didn’t create much danger, with us in control of the match, we cannot put everything we had done until the goal to waste. You can’t lose your focus and play with your heart and not do what was planned. I feel that’s why we lost the match. We managed to tie, we wanted to go for goal, and, on the next minute, we conceded another goal. I honestly expected more. I take full responsibility for what happened on the pitch. If we want to become champions, we have to give more than we did tonight, especially in terms of competitive focus. Because all it takes is a mistake and everything goes to waste.”

We have to be stronger, on and off the pitch
“The strategy was well established, we know that Famalicão are a compact team, and that it’s hard to go through the middle; we had to use the right timing, and use the width and depth we had worked on. After the opposing coach aimed at defending the result, I sent in another forward and pushed Marega to the right. Especially because the fullback that went in, not being a fullback, could add more weight to the attack, by keeping Centelles in front of him. When we tied, with three powerful forwards upfront, we could have had a somewhat different match, making more use of those forwards to win. We did have an occasion, with Aboubakar, that, for me, was clearly a penalty, at least I have no doubts watching the replay on TV. Therefore, we have to be stronger on the pitch, we need to be stronger off the pitch. This will be a fight, against everything and against everyone, for sure. We knew this, and we need to be prepared for that. We have to be strong and I feel we weren’t as strong as we should have been tonight.”

Those with character and strong personality need to take the responsibility
“We are not used to losing. We don’t like to lose. But what we need to think of is on getting back to work tomorrow, to get the nine matches left to play in the championship. That’s the mentality the team needs. We want men with character, men with a strong personality, to take the responsibility on the bad moments, and I’m taking that responsibility as the coach to give the proper response in the next matches.”