Following the 2-2 tie against Sporting, Sérgio Conceição explained that the team had “many situations” in the first-half, when they applied pressure “to the first stage of Sporting’s attack”, but, when the opponent was able to go up, “they created danger and scored goals”. At halftime, the blue and white coach corrected “one or two situations” to try to “win the match”. “Looking at the full ninety minutes and a little more”, FC Porto deserved “more than the tie”, but the “short play time” didn’t help either, as João Pinheiro, one of “the best Portuguese referees” was “unable to control the match”. Now, the team needs to “cool down” and “prepare well” for the “match against Lazio for the Europa League”. Finally, following Frederico Varandas’ statements after the match at the press room, Sérgio Conceição responded: “There has to be respect for FC Porto, for a President who has been in the seat for 40 years and has won so much not just in Portugal, but also in Europe.”

Pressing start, but two goals conceded
“Mainly because of the quality we have as a team and individually. We started the match well, we had two situations in the first few minutes of the match, we put a lot of pressure on their first stage of attack, their moves from the back. It’s true that in one or two situations they managed to move up, created danger and scored goals, but we had many more situations.”

The changes at halftime and the bitter taste of the tie
“At halftime we corrected one or two situations, we tried to do what we wanted, which was to win the match. After Coates was sent-off, it became a one-way match, as we had chances to beat the national champions, a good team that does what they do in a simple and effective way. Looking at the full 90 minutes and a little more, we deserved more than the tie.”

Some mistakes made
“As we got to the end of the pitch, we could have defined better, we could have played more in the centre, cross to where the opponent leaves space. It’s a competitive match, you feel it’s an important match, there was a lack of judgement from both teams, but there is no reason for what happened in the end.”

The short play time and referee João Pinheiro’s performance
“I think the play time was short, we are one of the worst leagues in Europe among the big ones in terms of play time. The match stops when it shouldn’t, I know it’s difficult for the referee to control the match, and the players are often the ones to blame for that, but referees don’t always know how to control the match. João is one of the best Portuguese referees, but he failed to control the match. Looking at the match as a whole, I’m probably not the only person who thinks we deserved more than a tie, we are a very imposing team in the attack and the message at halftime was to win the match.”

Looking ahead
“The tie was a negative result, we wanted to win, but now we have to think about the next match, which is against Moreirense. We have a match for the Europa League against Lazio before that, so we want to cool down and prepare for that match well.”

The confrontation at the end of the match
“I was told that some media was reporting a confrontation between me and Hugo Viana. Hugo is close, you can call him, I was pushing my players away and Hugo was pushing his. In the middle of all that, players always get sent-off, no one calms down, it’s not good for anyone, but my coaching staff and I tried to calm everyone, as did Hugo Viana.”

Response to Frederico Varandas’ criticism
“Even more regrettable was what I saw in this press room before I came in. There has to be respect for FC Porto, for a President who has been in the seat for 40 years and has won so much not just in Portugal, but also in Europe. He is President with the most titles in the world, the best manager in the world in my opinion and in the opinion of many people all over the world. I’m in my fifth year here, we play in the Champions League and I see the respect and the value everyone gives to the best manager in the world.”