Francisco Moura reaches 200 games, hails progress at FC Porto | OneFootball

In FC Porto's 2-0 victory over Tondela, Francisco Moura celebrated a special milestone in his career: his 200th game as a professional. At 26 years old, the left-back has accumulated experiences at Braga, Famalicão, and now with the Dragons, where he has already played 58 matches. Reflecting on his journey in an interview with the newspaper OJOGO, he identifies three moments that marked him decisively.

One of the most significant occurred in November 2020, when he suffered a serious injury. "These are tough periods, where we stop doing what we love and are away from the squad," he recalls. His return involved a decisive step: the move to Famalicão. The loan allowed him to regain competitive rhythm, build confidence, and relaunch his career. The third moment, which he considers the most important, was joining FC Porto — a leap that represents a high point in his journey.

Since donning the blue and white, Moura believes that the greatest evolution has occurred on a mental level. The increased demand was felt from day one. Playing for a club that is required to win, week after week, demands constant focus and total availability to compete in several consecutive games. "You always have to be at your best," he emphasizes.

For the near future, the defender maintains a simple but clear goal: to finish the season with collective success. He intends to continue helping the team achieve victories and titles, reinforcing that this is the objective shared by everyone in the locker room.

In a period filled with matches, Moura highlights the importance of physical and mental management. Adequate rest, good nutrition, and emotional clarity become essential to face more intense cycles. This preparation, combined with the daily work of the coaching staff, has been, according to the player, one of the pillars of the Dragons' excellent defensive performance this season. He also praises the quality of the backline, highlighting Bednarek and Kiwior, as well as the importance of the other central defenders in the squad, despite the injuries that have affected some members.

In the Europa League, Moura considers it crucial to secure direct qualification for the next phase, avoiding the play-off and reducing the calendar overload. The match against Malmö, at the Dragão, therefore assumes particular importance.

Ahead of a sequence of three home games, for three different competitions, the defender reinforces the appeal to Porto fans. He acknowledges the impact they have had on the team's performance and hopes to continue seeing the stadium full throughout the month. FC Porto hosts Malmö in the Europa League, Estrela da Amadora for the championship, and Famalicão for the Portuguese Cup, before closing the year with a reception to Aves SAD on December 29.

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