Abraham Marcus: “Sérgio Conceição is tough because he likes us” | OneFootball

Abraham Marcus, a winger for Estrela da Amadora, looked back in an interview on the journey he began in Portugal at 18, from adapting at Feirense to his spell at FC Porto. The Nigerian forward recalled his debut at the Dragão, explained the demands of Sérgio Conceição, then coach of the blue-and-whites, and spoke about the bond he built with the country. On the coach’s harshness, he assured: “because he likes us.”

Eight years after arriving in Portuguese football, Abraham Marcus looks back without hiding the difficulties, but also without dramatizing the obstacles. Between club changes, an experience in Poland and the opportunity to play for FC Porto’s first team, one idea runs through the whole story: it was necessary to work, believe and understand the demands of each stage.

The first change came early. At 18, Marcus swapped Nigeria for Santa Maria da Feira and realized in his very first training session that he would have to adjust his game and overcome the language barrier.

“I immediately realized in the first training session that football was different from Nigeria and that I needed to work harder and believe in myself more. Some aspects were difficult, like the language, but my teammates at the time also helped me with the vocabulary of the game.”

The adaptation was not only football-related. The support of his teammates gave him references on the pitch and tools to deal with a more demanding reality.

After Feirense came Portimonense and Radomiak Radom, but FC Porto was already part of the journey. Marcus revealed that the Dragons had contacted him before the move to the Algarve, although the desire to play in the Primeira Liga weighed heavily in his decision.

“Before going to Portimonense, I had already been contacted by FC Porto to play for the B team. At the time, I wanted to play in the Primeira Liga and ended up signing for Portimonense.” That was how he explained his first choice. “I stayed there for four to five months, then the opportunity to go to Poland came up, which was a different experience, also because of the weather: it was very cold when I arrived there.” And he added: “At the end of the season, FC Porto were still interested and I didn’t think twice.”

The path had its detours, but Porto’s interest remained. When the opportunity came again, the forward did not hesitate in the face of a step that would allow him to reach the Dragão’s main stage.

His debut for FC Porto’s first team carried special weight, although Marcus naturally describes the way he experiences moments of greater exposure. When he steps onto the pitch, he says, he tries to shut out everything around him.

“It was special, although I consider it something normal. When I go onto the pitch, I don’t pay attention to the atmosphere or the stadium I’m in.”

The answer combines emotion and competitive coolness. The setting was striking, but the priority remained the game, without allowing the atmosphere to affect his performance.

Sérgio Conceição, then FC Porto coach, gave him words of encouragement on that debut. Marcus also recalled the coach’s intensity, arguing that the toughness of his approach could be misunderstood by those who did not know his intentions.

“He encouraged me a lot and told me to keep playing and training the same way, that I was still young. He is an excellent coach, with whom, if we are not careful or do not have a good mentality, we can end up getting furious.” That is how he recalled the first advice. “At first we don’t realize that he only wants the best for the players. Sometimes he is tough in his approach because he likes us and only wants to get the best level out of us.” And he concluded: “Those who don’t know him think he is aggressive, but he isn’t.”

The picture is of a demanding style which, in the player’s view, had a clear purpose. Marcus separates intensity from aggression and interprets toughness as a way of seeking the players’ best performance.

Off the pitch, the Nigerian has already found Portuguese flavors that hold a special place among his favorites. Among the dishes he has tried, he picked two without hesitation.

“Picanha and duck rice,” he said.

In his free time, recovery takes priority after the effort of training. Marcus revealed that he likes to “rest for three or four hours after a training session.”

Those choices paint a simple daily routine, divided between physical rest and the familiarity he has developed with Portuguese cuisine over the years he has lived in Portugal.

His very name carries a family story. Abraham Marcus explained his parents’ inspiration and the meaning he associates with each part of it.

“Abraham was the father of all nations. Marcus means a warrior,” he said.

Between the symbolic dimension of Abraham and the strength attributed to Marcus, the name brings together two striking images: the origin of nations and the figure of the warrior.

Santa Maria da Feira, Portimão, Porto and Lisbon are the Portuguese cities where he has lived. When it came time to choose his favorite, the forward was torn between the two biggest references in his urban journey.

“So far, I’ve liked Lisbon and Porto the most. I can’t say which one is my favorite, they are both very beautiful,” he said.

That indecision reflects the bond he has built with different places. Between Lisbon and Porto, Marcus prefers not to establish a hierarchy.

In the Estrela da Amadora dressing room, the winger says he has a good relationship with the whole squad, although he identifies the teammate he talks to most.

“Jefferson Encada is the one I speak to the most,” he stressed.

That closeness in the dressing room coexists with a linguistic preference that remains unchanged. Despite understanding and speaking Portuguese, Marcus still feels more comfortable in English.

“I think I speak it well, although I still always prefer English.”

The language, one of the difficulties he felt upon arriving, no longer represents the same barrier. Even so, English remains the most natural choice for him to express himself more comfortably.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.