FC Porto left Manchester with a defeat, but with their heads raised. In a match that was blemished by the indescribable team led by referee Andris Treimanis, the Dragons were winning, watched as City tied in a penalty that should have been disallowed for a clear foul on Marchesín, and, nevertheless, still reached the break on top of the match. The Citizens only created the first real goal situations in the second-half and moved ahead of the scoreboard in yet another set piece that is, at the very least, questionable. At the end of the match, Sérgio Conceição talked of an “unfortunate match”, but “unlike the match in Alvalade”, congratulated the blue and whites players as “it’s not easy like this”. The coach of the national champions also left a note to Portuguese referees: “I feel I owe them an apology, because, looking at the refereeing team and the VAR tonight, these international referees have a lot to learn from the Portuguese City of Football”.

Apology to Portuguese referees
“The referee had a tremendous impact on the match. It wasn’t the only reason, but I feel they had a tremendous impact on the match. Marchesín is bruised on his leg right now, because of the foul on him. That allowed them to tie, and it raised their confidence, as they were finding no way to breach our defensive line. And when they did, they posed no danger. Just before the break, we had one or two more opportunities to score, as we reached their goal with danger, always remaining humble and skilled in our defensive organization, and then Pepe is pushed from the back in a throw in. That should have been a penalty and a chance to reach halftime in the lead. Then came the free-kick for the 2-1, which wasn’t a foul in my opinion. There were situations where nothing was signalled, others when too much was signalled. I feel I owe an apology to Portuguese referees, because I speak up when I’m harmed, and I often also speak up when I’m helped. I feel I owe them an apology, because, looking at the refereeing team and the VAR tonight, these international referees have a lot to learn from the Portuguese City of Football.”

Comments made by Guardiola conditioned the referee
“Maybe that’s why Josep Guardiola brought up the subject in the preview of the match. I have to learn from him, in the way he conditions the referee when he talks to the opposing players and bench. I have to learn that. If he brought it up before the match with FC Porto, we were real angels in terms of talking to their bench.”

Congratulations to the players
“I think they surprised many people, even the commentators, analysts and experts, people who were crucifying me before the match. But that doesn’t matter, what matters is that the opponent didn’t realise how we would be playing, how we changed our base structure and how we condition their potential and weapons to the max. It was an unfortunate match, but unlike the match in Alvalade, I want to congratulate the players, as it’s not easy like this. There was one or two that played for the first time, in a tactic that we are not used to, and I think they gave a fantastic answer. Last week, I talked of attitude, of mindset, of the spirit you need to have to play for this club, and the reaction Fábio had when we lost the ball, in the play that isn’t a foul to me and leads to their second goal, for me, that’s everything. I congratulated him, because that’s the type of reaction I want. And one or two unfortunate decisions from the referee were determinant for the outcome.”

Ready for the fight
“We are confident and certain that will give a good response. We are a strong candidate to qualify to the next stage. I remember we didn’t start the Champions League well in my first year, but then we moved forward. We are in a difficult process, with new players, that have to adjust to a new club. And this isn’t done with just words. It’s demanding, we are rigorous in our work, we want the players to get out of their comfort zone, and, at first, that isn’t easy. But that’s what we want to do, and that’s how we are going to win. We are ready for the fight.”