Portuguese international Otavio this Wednesday ensured he would finish his eighth consecutive season at Porto’s service, relativizing rumors of the national runner-up’s possible departure in the off-season.
“Even on vacation, I kept in touch with my teammates. I have great friends here. They’re always talking about me and I’m used to it, but they’ll have to take me on for another year,” the 28-year-old midfielder, quoted on official Dragons channels, remarked.
Chosen as the best player in the 2022/23 Portuguese I Liga season, Otavio was the representative of FC Porto on the second day of training in Vale do Garrão in the Algarve and received the prize for the best goal of the last match. season, appointed after success against the Famalicao (3:2, after extra time), for the second leg of the Portuguese Cup semi-final.
“It was a great goal and the best of my career. I am happy with this award. First of all, this goal was important, because in the end we won the Portuguese Cup, otherwise it would not have been worth anything. It was worth it and I’m happy. I was already tired, but it inspired us and allowed us to reach the final,” he recalled, referring to the goal reached at 120+1 minutes.
The team led by Sergio Conceição said goodbye to the 2022/23 season by winning the Super Cup, an unprecedented League Cup and the Portuguese Cup, but failed to confirm the national title, a goal that the influential midfielder had set at the top of the season at the start of the season. 2023/24.
“Every year that passes, we always want to do better. Everyone wants to achieve more individually and collectively. Last season we won three titles, and could have become four. This season we will try to win all four,” he said. noted while aiming to lift a record of seven goals and 13 assists in 44 games played in the previous campaign.
Having started the pre-season with success against Academia (4:0), from Ligue 3 and the blue and white team B (3:0), both in Olival, FC Porto will meet this Wednesday at the fair, also the premier Portimonense, from 19:00, in his third preparation bout.
“It’s always nice to get back to work and we’re going to prepare well. We expect everyone’s support and I’m sure it will be a great season. There are no pre-season games for us because we always want to win. … tired, we always give a little more with the support of the fans,” emphasized Otavio, who is coached by Sergio Conceição for the ninth consecutive season, the first of which is in Vitoria de Guimarães.
Porto have set their sights on the Supercopa Candido de Oliveira against national champions Benfica on 8 or 9 August in Aveiro, the first official commitment of the 2023/24 season.
“This is the first official game and deserves the title. We will do our best to try and win it. From now on, game after game. The first match of the I league will be important, as well as the last one. “strong,” the midfielder warned, and the Dragons won nine trophies.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.