After the eighth victory in eight pre-season matches, Vítor Bruno maintained the usual tranquillity and stressed that "the best signing" in the summer market "is training": "The players have been phenomenal in the way they have tried to bring to the game everything that is done in training. We are expecting a difficult season, against high-level opponents who will force us to do our best”.

The coach started by "congratulating FC Porto for the tribute to Otávio, Alex Telles and Luís Castro" before reminding that, "at Olival", he enjoyed time with the two players and built "great memories in football". A confessed admirer of the coach who today led the opponent, he praised his "knowledge of the game" and the fact that he had "principles and norms" in which he saw himself and wished the three of them "a good season".

"In relation to the pre-season" which is in the completion phase and was "a lot of work", it served to "consolidate a lot of what was already coming from behind" and "introduced one or two new ideas", Vítor Bruno explained that there is still "a long way to go with the arrival of the international players" and the team needs to "try to make everyone share the same spirit, with the permanent addiction to victory".

"Very alert", the Dragons know "Sporting's game profile, what they can do as a team and how they can hurt" and the coach stated that there may be changes: "This victory doesn’t mean that, on Saturday, it will be the same as seen recently. There are players with a different profile that can transform our defensive and offensive profile ”.

The international stars "come with 40 days of work in the national squads and can’t be pushed as hard", but "they have made a huge effort, they have worked very well even in the two-day sessions". The week that begins this Monday will serve to unveil "the best way to attack" the Super Cup, and there is mutual knowledge about the strengths and weaknesses. "These are always brave fights," said the coach.

Asked about the "youth stars", more specifically about Martim Fernandes, who joined "the group at an important stage last season", "gave great answers in training" and "the way he played here at home against Sporting, last season, shows someone who is already prepared", the coach pointed out that "some are at a different maturity level" and "other boys have to take their steps". "What we want is that they embrace in a convinced and challenging way we throw their way", the coach said confidently before praising Rodrigo Mora, who "has a lot to give as long as he realizes that football is more than what he was born with, which is innate talent. He can go long at European level ”.

In solidarity with the “giant effort” that “the president and the directors” have made to retain athletes with many clubs interested in them, the blue and white coach finally assured that “the great strength of a club cannot reside only in history, but in the fans, in the city”: “We know that if they are there for us, we will ride their wave. What we hope is that on Saturday they will be strong and support us as always”.