FC Porto lost on Thursday against Olympiacos (1-0), at Estádio do Dragão, in matchday 7 of the Europa League league stage. Highlighting the way the team started the match, José Tavares saw the players “intense in the search for goal”, but when it takes a while to appear, “it is normal for some distrust to arise”. “We ended up conceding the goal in an unfortunate way, but the team continued to believe that at least it was possible to reach the tie, sadly with more heart than head”, the coach added.

Match analysis
“I felt that the team went in well, with a lot of character and a lot of desire to turn the situation around. The players were capable and intense in the search for goal. When the goal does not appear, it is normal for some distrust to arise, but we did well, facing a strong and organized opponent. The first half was positive, we showed what we were coming for, but in the second half we didn't go in so well. The game became different and we were not as capable of creating danger. When the game broke, some discomfort grew in the team. We ended up conceding the goal in an unfortunate way, but the team continued to believe that at least it was possible to reach the tie, sadly with more heart than head. We created enough situations to tie after the goal, but, unfortunately, we were not able to reach it. The players showed character, work, effort and dedication.”

Substitutions during the game
“It wasn't because of the changes that the game became more erratic. When we conceded the goal, we tried to move forward as quickly as possible. I tried to add some variables in the team, but the goal conceded made us nervous.”

The squad
“I found a team with a lot of desire to turn the situation around. We feel that the players have showed the character they have and that they are aware of the reality, they know that things need to be changed. They need to trust themselves.”