Conceicao equally respects Gil Vicente and Shakhtar

Porto will show “the same respect” for Gil Vicente, which it hosts on Saturday, in the I Football League, as against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, coach Sérgio Conceicao noted this Friday.

“Historically, it’s been a tough game at home and we haven’t been able to win it the last two seasons. This is proof that we are in for a difficult match. We have to understand the dynamics and strengths of the team. We must be attentive to the opponent and treat Gil Vicente with the same respect as Shakhtar Donetsk. There is no difference,” the coach assured in the preliminary conference for the fifth round match.

The Dragons return to action four days after their 27th and fourth straight Champions League appearance with a 3-1 win over Group H’s Ukraine in Hamburg, Germany. in the face of Russian invasion.

“I think this showcase was a natural fit for those who know the players, the club and the history we have at Champions. Obviously, this history and symbol are irrelevant. Athletes must keep up with the times and implement their ideas. into the game so that in the end we can achieve a positive result and a good game,” he emphasized, admitting that “confidence, form and dynamics” depend on daily work to the detriment of the outcome of matches.

With four wins and a draw, Porto follows Boavista and Sporting at the top of the league but has the worst goal difference of both, while the welcome of Gil Vicente precedes the visit of national champions Benfica in fourth place .

“This is my seventh year [no clube] and I think this is the second best start [na I Liga, atrás de 2017/18]. The results were positive and better than the performances. In terms of exhibition, it is difficult to do worse than what has already been done. The outlook is that the team will improve and continue to show positive results. This means winning, because drawing is already a drama for us. We missed two fundamental points [na igualdade 1-1 na receção ao Arouca, da quarta ronda] in this battle for the championship, and we cannot shy away from our main goal – to regain the title,” said Sergio Conceição.

When asked about his approach to the games, the coach emphasized the importance of “strategy” and “the ability of athletes to be motivated across different competitions,” believing that at a championship it is “harder to break through the defensive wall than at a championship.” Champions”.

“I’m sure the games in the Champions League are more divided and a little more open, and that’s natural. With the exception of half a dozen home games, we spend most of our time attacking. Now teams are increasingly more competent and coaches understand what we are as a team. We learn very well and are very detailed in everything. Knowing that we need to win three points and that every game is a final, we have to dismantle these defensive organizations. That we have caught the Portuguese teams, go to the goal and be very measured so as not to miss,” he concluded.

Pepe returns to action after suspension at the Champions, while Zaidou suffered a muscle injury in his left thigh in Hamburg and is “out for the next few weeks”, flanking Ivan Marcano, Gabriel Veron, Danny Namaso or Evanilson. in the clinical report.

FC Porto, in the top three of the I League with 13 points, will host Gil Vicente, ninth with six points, on Saturday starting at 20:30 at the Estadio Dragao in Porto. on Friday, by decision of António Nobre of the Leiria Association.