FC Porto is in the lead over the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, after beating Juventus (2-1) at Estádio do Dragão, for the first leg of the round. After the first match against the Italian nine times in a row champions, Sérgio Conceição highly praised the performance of the blue and whites as a team, stating that “the players were the ones who built this victory”. Overall, the blue and white coach regretted only the “bitterness” of conceding a goal close to the end of the match. The second leg is played in Turin, on March 9 (Tuesday, 20h00).

The resume of the match
“We started well, but it wasn’t by chance. Our high pressure on the opponent was something we worked on, but it’s always easier during a set piece, of course, as in a goal kick, for example. The players understood what we wanted for that moment of the match perfectly. We made it 1-0 and we remained organized, be it on the defence or on the attack. We were also able to condition the way Rabiot received the ball and we closed the wings with efficiency. The boys played a fantastic match and understood what we had planned. They were the ones who built this victory. We are halfway through the round and we will have an extremely difficult match in Turin. We need to keep this attitude and mentality. A team with the history that FC Porto has cannot, at any time, regardless of who we face or what competition we play for, change its behaviour. We always have to give everything and stay on the edge.”

Solid performance
“Juventus had their first dangerous shot 70 minutes in and this is the Italian champions we are talking about, a strong team, with some of the best players in the world. That shows the solid performance we had, with a strong defensive organization. We did well in that regard, and we could have even made it 3-0, with Sérgio Oliveira, in a quick counter-attack he led. The goal we conceded is bitter and the players didn’t deserve that blow. In terms of defence, with the exception of the goal conceded, the team did great. It was a fantastic defensive work, starting with the forwards and ending in Marchesín.”

Audience missed in a great European night at Estádio do Dragão
“It’s a shame that we didn’t have the stadium full for this match. The fans suffer from home and they would suffer here as well, but they would help us, and it’s possible that a full stadium would help us get that 3-0.”

Mind work
“Those who join FC Porto need an adaptation period, to understand the club they joined and the demand on them. We, the coaches, also need to understand the player we have in our hands, and that’s why we like to know the stories behind the man behind the player. Zaidu, for example, was in Mirandela two years ago. Today, he is a grow man facing the Round of 16 of the Champions League, against Juventus, and playing a fantastic match.”

Next is Marítimo in Madeira
“We need to rest now, because our Champions League is on Monday, against Marítimo. This is a final for us, because we will be facing the leader of the championship at home next, and we want to reduce the distance to them. It’s a vital match for us. The next matches are vital for us considering that we want to give a good response in the championship. We need to be as solid as we were tonight, in every way.”