FC Porto qualified for the final of the Portuguese Cup, and will face Sporting, after beating Vitória de Guimarães (3-1), at Estádio do Dragão, in the 2nd leg of the semi-finals. After the match, Sérgio Conceição praised the way the players “interpreted the strategy well” and believes that the blues and whites could have scored more goals, but “it would be unfair” for what the opponent did.

The resume of the match
“It was more of the same as in the last few games. The first time the opponent reached our goal, they scored. In a throw-in, we have to approach the play differently, as we were not very aggressive in the fight for the ball. The game was prepared like all others, very rigorously. We explored the spaces well, especially in comparison to the game for the championship. Congratulations to the players, who interpreted the strategy well. We could have scored more goals, but for what Vitória de Guimarães did, it would have been unfair. The result is totally fair for the knockout round, but this is a win that gives us nothing. we don’t celebrate victories at this club, we celebrate titles. We want to finish the championship in the best way to then think about the final, which we really want to win.”

A good game on and off the pitch
“In our life, we have to be used to negative situations that are not expected. Within what is our way of working, with great rigor, things cannot be questioned by unhappiness or by a play. The players were very mature in this regard and we didn’t give up our strategy, following the environment on the stands. In that sense, it was a great game for our fans and rival fans. We won only one game, nothing more.”

Galeno left upset
“It's good, it means that he feels the game and felt that he could have done more, but we are together in this fight and we are together on the same boat. We believe in this and when someone fails, we all fail, the whole group fails. It is in this spirit that we must continue to try to mitigate a championship that is not being achieved well. Galeno has had a very good season, played an excellent Champions League and gives everything every day.”

Romário Baró's good entrance
“You don't see our daily work and what the players do in training. Today Romário did what he usually does. He has already been on loan twice and I always wanted to start the season with him, as I know his potential.”

Five Portuguese Cup finals in six years
“In six years, five finals and three Portuguese Cups won, but I still owe one to FC Porto because I lost it and I wanted to have won all four. Sporting is the other finalist and they have merit, but we will think about that game when the time comes.”

Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa
“It's 42 years of many victories, much success and many hours to celebrate. There is a catch, his demanding nature, when you don't win something... I won 15 titles as a coach and player at FC Porto. It only takes one defeat for him to forget it all, just as I do. The important thing now is Casa Pia and the chairman also thinks that way. He's already telling me about Casa Pia.”