Conceicao wants to influence Barcelona with his defensive energy

Defensive solidity will prevail at Porto to prepare Barcelona, ​​coach Sergio Conceiço predicted on Tuesday, ahead of their Champions League Group H second-round clash.

“FC Barcelona is the team with the highest percentage of possession in Spain. They attack very dangerously from deep and play with a lot of width. We must be careful on defense. Additionally, they have players who can decide the game from one moment to the next. Regarding the defensive organization, we have had several games without conceding goals, but we know the weak points that all teams have. I think this has a lot to do with our consistency in defense and then taking advantage of some of the weaknesses of FC Barcelona, ​​analyzed the coach in a press conference.

Both teams are equal in the lead of the “pool”, after the “dragons” beat the Ukrainians Shakhtar Donetsk (3-1) in a match in Hamburg, Germany due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the champion Spanish national team defeated the Belgian “Antwerp” at home ( 5:0), with two goals and an assist from Portuguese João Felix.

Sérgio Conceição praised the striker’s “above average individual quality” who, like his Portugal colleague Joao Cancelo, strengthened the Catalans at the end of the summer transfer window and arrived to “add” needed positions.

“We have to face one of the best clubs in the world. Whether we play 4-4-2, 4-3-3 or 5-4-1 depends on the strategy. “It’s important that every player feels comfortable in the space you’re about to enter. I think there will be a lot of that in these Champions League games where the level is very high and there’s balance. We have to be on top.” “We will suffer from Barcelona, ​​but Barcelona will also suffer from Porto,” he said.

Looking at the Blaugrana’s recent past, having failed to reach the round of 16 in the previous two tournaments, the Blaugrana coach admitted the plan could be to “pull the team back a little bit and put pressure on the team.” different areas.”

“These games are always attractive. I have an inbox full of invite requests, but I wanted to get requests for smaller games as well. This is a game of “Champions”, between two historical clubs that, although not one of the capitals, represent regions that elevate the names of their countries in Europe and throughout the world,” he illustrated.

Pepe is preparing for a clash with the winners of five continental titles (1991/92, 2005/06, 2008/09, 2010/11 and 2014/15), which will be widely covered in the media. He follows Ivan Marcano, Zaidou, Gabriel Veron and Evanilson. in Porto’s clinical report, in which only Fabio Cardoso and David Carmo will appear among the alternatives in the defensive line.

“The champions’ experience and minutes are important, but Pepe and Marcano will not be available. There will be others and each player must take responsibility, regardless of age. At the end of the game there will always be one person who gives credit for what we did. I represent this group and there are no problems as long as they do their job and are emotionally prepared for these stages. Otherwise they will not be able to represent a club like Porto,” concluded Sérgio Conceicao.

On Wednesday, starting at 20:00, at the Dragao Stadium in Porto, Porto will host Barcelona, ​​both with three points, in a match of the second round of Group H of the Champions League, which will be refereed by Englishman Anthony Taylor a few hours after , how the Belgians from Antwerp met at home with the Ukrainians from Shakhtar Donetsk.