After winning the 23rd Supercup in the blue and white history, the eighth trophy for Sérgio Conceição as coach of the Dragons, which allowed him to match Artur Jorge as the most titled coach in the club’s history, the coach was “happy for the victory and for the performance” and congratulated “the group” for following the plan outlined for the match. After a season that ended with the double, the team needs to “follow up on this one” and, for that to happen, they need to keep working , as “nothing is done at the club without work”. Looking at the season that now starts, the coach concluded: “The titles are part of the past, so now we have to look at the future. We have to readjust in terms of understanding what is still missing to remain competitive for what is ahead of us”.

Congratulations to the group for following the strategy outlined
“Happy with the victory and the performance. Obviously, it was very difficult, physically, to maintain the pace of the first-half and we went in very strong, with the mindset that we were facing the best team in the world, remaining humble and with a lot of respect for the opponent. We created chances, scored two goals and could have scored more. We started the second-half not as strong in terms of passing and moving, which is normal at this stage of the season, and I adjusted according to what the match was asking for. I must praise the way we controlled Tondela, who we knew would be playing in a medium/low block, we had to create difficulties and we did. I want to congratulate the group for that. This title is a continuation of last season, we were successful last season and we want to continue in this one.”

Specific work done with set pieces
“Nothing is done at the club without work. The players are intelligent and they understand much of what we do. You can only score goals in tactics because you work on them. We dedicated training units exclusively to defensive and offensive tactics. We had a very tall team, we knew that, apart from the direct corner-kicks where we caused difficulties, we also could use direct passing. There’s a lot of work behind those important moments and one of them led to a goal.”

Looking ahead with the usual demand
“My concern now is, in a way, to keep the players who were on the sheet, that they don’t leave, they are important players for our journey. We have three domestic competitions plus the Champions League, and we have to readjust the squad. The titles are part of the past, so now we have to look at the future, and the future has to do with what I just said. The players that were on the sheet are essential for our journey, I don’t want anyone to leave. We have to readjust in terms of understanding what is still missing to remain competitive for what is ahead of us.”