FC Porto had already expected “a very difficult game” with “many battles,” so Francesco Farioli’s men “worked hard to achieve a great result” in Stuttgart, “and that’s what happened” (2-1). Still, Pepê reminded that “the very positive result means nothing” and that the team needs to “keep our feet firmly on the ground because nothing is decided yet”: “At Estádio do Dragão, we have to have the same mindset so we can secure qualification. We have to be at the highest level, fully focused to play another great game.”

The hard work paid off
“We knew it was going to be a very difficult game; few teams manage to win here. We knew it would be a game with a lot of one-on-one battles and that we’d have to rise to the occasion, so we worked hard to get a great result here, and that’s exactly what happened.”

The lesson learned from the Classic
“We made some mistakes in the previous game and knew we couldn’t make them again, especially at this stage of the competition where every play is crucial. We learned quickly, worked hard, and tried not to repeat those mistakes.”

The round is still not over
“It was a very tough game; we got a very positive result, but that doesn’t mean anything. Their team has shown incredible quality and top-level players, so we have to keep our feet firmly on the ground because nothing is decided yet. At home, we have to maintain the same mindset of putting in another great performance so we can secure qualification.”

The secret for the qualification
“They have great players, as I said, but every game is a final for us, and this one will be no different. We have to be at our absolute best, fully focused, to put in another great performance and secure our place in the next round.”