Conceicao plays ‘all or nothing’ for Benfica

Sergio Conceiço believes victory in a classic against Benfica on Sunday could get the Dragons back in the title race despite periodic delays.

The Porto coach used cautious language on the outside, but internally, to the players, he made it clear that achieving the domestic title was still possible. Sergio Conceiço, nine points behind leaders Benfica, believes the classic triumph leaves everything open in the fight for the main goal of winning the domestic championship.

In addition, the Dragons coach is also aware that the defeat (the Dragons are 12 points behind the lead) is a blow to the team’s plans to begin rebuilding.

Thus, in Dragao, the classic is treated as an all-or-nothing match. In addition, Conceicao’s contract is coming to an end and renewing it will be more difficult, especially since the club is in an election year – the elections will take place on April 27.

For now, the good news is that Galeno (swollen knee) and Evanilson (muscle pain) are eligible for the classics. Both players left with complaints in the 2-1 win over Santa Clara in the Azores in a Portuguese Cup match that qualified them for the semi-finals of the tournament – the blue and whites will face V. Guimarães in a two-legged tie.

The big doubt in Porto remains the possibility of Taremi’s recovery for the match with Benfica. The striker is being treated for an injury to the adductor muscle of the right thigh, but is in the final stages of treatment. In addition to Taremi, the clinical report includes Goncalo Ribeiro, Marcano and Zaida, who were treated this Friday.

Alan Varela, one of this season’s boosters who has proven himself at Porto, admitted in an interview with a betting site that Sérgio Conceicao is “very demanding”. “It’s been good working with him. He demands the maximum in every training session and every game,” he said.