FC Porto is in the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup after eliminating Benfica in a big victory by 3-0 at Estádio do Dragão in the Round of 16 of the competition. Vítor Bruno, who replaced Sérgio Conceição, still banned, praised the “full throttle start” of the blue and whites, the way they got to 3-0, and the organisation that allowed them to hold on to the result even with one player down. “The players did everything perfectly and they kept to the script, so congratulations to them”, Vítor Bruno added.

The resume of the match
“As soon as we started doing a thorough and detailed analysis to the opponent, we realised that they have a lot of quality, and that it was important to be at our best competitive performance, set the players to a full throttle start, doing everything with tactical purpose, with and without the ball, and never speculate about the match. That was the message. The players were very strong and we limited their playing, neutralizing the opponent’s playmakers; we also tried to be vertical with the ball, to quickly find our way to their goal. The players did everything perfectly and kept to the script, so congratulations to them.”

More goals could have been scored and another classic on the 30th
“We could have scored more goals and even created enough opportunities for that, but, above all, it was the way we approached the game. Defensively, we were perfect. In the second-half, we had to adopt a different strategy, but I think the secret of our team is that the players can adapt themselves to what the match asks of them. Luis Díaz, for example, played a fantastic match defensively. There’s more on the 30th, but it will be a match with a completely different reality.”

The essence of the Porto Nation is not in history
“There is a symbolism in this victory for what the fans have always accustomed us to. I wish a Merry Christmas to the Porto Nation. We often look at the greatness of a club through its history, but it can also be seen in the fans, the values they uphold, the determination, and, when you put all that on the pitch, I have to thank our tireless fans. There were 50 thousand here today, but, if there was a way to have 100 thousand or 150 thousand, they would have been here. We are grateful for the support they give us. After the defeat against Atlético de Madrid, they were the first to lift us up.”