Spanish footballer Toni Martinez assured this Monday that he has recovered from the moment he lived through at Porto at the end of last season, when he was suspended by then Porto coach Sergio Conceição.
“It was a very unpleasant moment, especially because my professionalism was questioned, but it made me stronger and I got through it. I don’t want to talk too much about it, it’s something that will last my whole life. I worked hard to get back and, thank God, I’m here, where I wanted to be. I’m very happy to be back in the team,” the forward admitted.
Toni Martinez spoke to reporters in Bad Tatzmannsdorf, south-eastern Austria, shortly after the Porto squad arrived for pre-season training camp, which runs until July 24 and includes three more games for the team currently coached by Vitor Bruno.
“I always felt needed until the moment of the decision, which I found very unfair. I always tried my best and respected the symbol of the club, which is bigger than all of us. The most important thing is to be here with new energy and [pronto] “to do everything possible,” he noted.
With four goals in 25 games in 2023/24, the 27-year-old striker is coming off his least productive season at Porto, having been sent out for a separate training session with Andre Franco and the Porto squad in April by Sérgio Conceição, Spaniard Ivan Jaime, both reinstated thanks to the appointment of former assistant Vitor Bruno as head coach, and Mexican Jorge Sánchez, who has already returned to Dutch club Ajax without exercising his purchase option.
“A second life at the club? It’s for everyone because we have a new coach, even if he is a famous person and a great professional from whom we learn a lot. Vitor Bruno is crazy about his job and he passes by this. Energy for everyone. That’s it. It will be very important because it seems that we are very hungry to win,” he said, not wanting to reveal a possible personal conversation with the new coach during the transition to the 2024/25 season.
Toni Martinez is part of the 29-man group called up by Vitor Bruno for the training camp in Austria, where the Dragons will face Al Arabi of Qatar on Tuesday, kick-off at 19:00 local time (18:00 Lisbon), in Oberwart, in the first open preparatory match, after beating Sanjoanense (4-0) of Ligue 3, in Olival, Desportivo de Chaves (4-0), relegated to the II League, and Nacional (4-1), promoted to the main level.
“It was a first few weeks of great physical work, but with another, very good dynamic and an exciting atmosphere. The goal is always to win the championship. Of course, we want to win everything, and we have been working since day one to do that,” he said.
Austria Wien (Friday) and Austrian champions Sturm Graz (July 23) are the Dragons’ other opponents, who have not spent time abroad since the 2016/17 season.
“FC Porto always wants the best. We wanted to play in the Champions League, but it will not be possible, and we are going to the Europa League with everything to win,” stressed Toni Martinez, linked to the club since 2020, when he arrived from the first division Famalicao.
The team coached by Vitor Bruno will make its official debut in the 2024/25 season on August 3 in Aveiro with the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira match against the national champion Sporting, who the Blue and Whites beat in the final of the last edition of the Portuguese Cup.
“This is a team that we know very well and has a very clear dynamic, but we will work to win. This is a game that will lead to the title and we really want to take the Super Cup to our museum,” said the striker, winner of this competition in 2020 and 2022.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Dave Martin, and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. As a part of my work, I write for 24 News Reporters, covering mostly sports-related topics. With more than 5 years of experience as a journalist, I have written numerous articles on various topics to provide accurate information to readers.