Cátia Hora returns to FC Porto to lead the under-17s | OneFootball

After two years gaining “more experience in the First Division and also in youth development”, Cátia Hora returned to FC Porto and took charge of the first training session of the under-17 team for 2026/27. With the debut in the age group’s National Championship on the horizon, a competition she sees as “a challenge expected to be quite difficult”, the coach stressed to the squad that “FC Porto is a club where nothing is impossible”: “Here, we can always dream. That was the message we gave them. They have every condition to grow, to develop, and that is the most important thing for us.”

Returning to FC Porto “It is a source of pride to be back at FC Porto. I had already been with the under-19s, in the first year of the project, so I am very proud of this invitation and it will certainly be a very good year. I spent one year in the First Division and another in youth development, so I bring more experience and a broader background to face this challenge.”

Back on the pitch “It is good to be back on the pitch. The players are eager to get back on the ball and return to competition. I hope it will be a smooth return at first and then, of course, training will become more intense so that we are ready for the start of the season.”

The work throughout pre-season “The first key point is to prepare the players. We are also a very young group, and we have to adapt to FC Porto’s ideals. That comes first; only then comes the part more focused on physical preparation and also training methods, because we are also a new coaching staff and there will be an adaptation period before we can achieve our objectives.”

A club where it is possible to dream “We focused our message heavily on what FC Porto is: a club where nothing is impossible, so here we can always dream. That was the message we passed on to them, because being here means we are always striving for the best, and they have every condition to grow and develop. That is the most important thing for us: that by the end of the season, their growth is clear to see.”

Expectations for the first Under-17 National Championship “We are also a bit unsure about what will happen in this competition. Obviously, these are opponents with senior squads in the First Division, so it is a challenge expected to be quite difficult.”

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