Read below the statements made by FC Porto coach, Vítor Bruno, after the 4-0 victory over Estoril, in the 10th round of the Portugal League.
One of FC Porto’s best starts: “Fair victory by clear numbers that could have had one or two more goals and the goal scored. It’s something we want to do in a more solid way. From 2-0 onwards we slow down a little, but sometimes it’s to attract the opponent and find space up front. Sometimes we are impatient, the circulation could have been faster and we talked about that at half-time. Good performance, solid play and the team is breathing more and more confidence”.
Correct changes and Varela’s savings: “It was precisely because of that (one yellow card away from exclusion), he wasn’t the real Varela, he was conditioned and had some handbrake in his approaches, and nowadays in football you can’t play like that. Between Varela at half gas or Eustáquio was full gas, we preferred Eustáquio. It wasn’t a question of management, but of pressure in the midfield”.
Absence from preview conferences to save time: “We launched the game anyway, at the end of the League Cup game. We don’t run away from the next game, it’s an option on our part, so we don’t have to constantly send out messages when the important thing is to do it in our own space. We have to focus on our opponent, grow the team and attack games after games in short spaces”.
FC Porto is the only one of the leaders with the coach for the longest time: “It’s not advisable to speak too loudly otherwise the president might have some ideas… (laughs). It’s not an advantage, Bruno Lage knows Benfica, Carlos Carvalhal knows SC Braga and whoever goes to Sporting certainly knows what takes place in Portuguese football.
Rúben Amorim’s departure: “He’s still here, he’ll play one more league game, he still has one more in the Champions League. I wish him all the luck in the world, except if we meet again in the Europa League, which would be a great sign.”
Pepe’s gesture: “It’s an anthem to football, I may be criticized for what I’m saying, but I like my players to be honest with themselves, with the opponents and whoever is watching the game. They made the right decision, then it’s reciprocated more to the forward with the goal”.
