Gustavo Oliveira: “we can’t let our standards slip” | OneFootball

José Miranda, coach of FC Porto’s Under-15 team, and midfielder Gustavo Oliveira previewed the home game against FC Paços de Ferreira in the 5th round of the Northern Series of the National Under-15 Championship. With a perfect winning record, the Dragons want to extend their good run without losing sight of collective development, balance, and everyone’s involvement. Confidence is there, but Gustavo Oliveira issued a warning: “we cannot lower our level.”

FC Porto return to the Estádio de Pedroso as clear leaders, with 12 points from a possible 12, three more than second-placed CD Feirense, while FC Paços de Ferreira sit eighth with three points. Ahead of Sunday’s match, at 11:00, live on FC Porto TV, José Miranda highlighted the seriousness of the work being done, and Gustavo Oliveira stressed the need to keep the team focused.

The run of wins has not distracted José Miranda from the priority set for these first few months. More than results or goals, the coach has placed the players’ development at the heart of the process.

“These months of work have been good, with a lot of seriousness and focus, regardless of the goal difference and the wins. We have been working very seriously and always with an objective that is not so much about the weekend or the goals scored, but about developing ourselves.”

The message rejects any complacent reading of the start to the season: winning matters, but it does not replace constant improvement. It is that level of demand that underpins the daily work and opens the way for new challenges.

Between consolidating routines and creating different difficulties, José Miranda wants a team capable of responding to new stimuli. The commitment of the whole group has made it possible to keep the players fully involved in the collective dynamic.

“We want to create routines and, at the same time, challenge them by creating some new constraints that they are not used to,” he explained. “We have felt that they are all very committed and understand the great challenge of being part of the team dynamic. That has allowed us to use all the players in every game, which leaves us satisfied.”

The use of the entire squad is therefore a consequence of the commitment shown. The coach is looking to give consistency to the model without taking away from the players the need to adapt.

As for FC Paços de Ferreira, José Miranda expects a competitive opponent motivated by the chance to face the league leaders. Even so, Porto’s focus remains inward.

“As usual, I believe they will come looking to challenge themselves against the team in first place, but we are not looking at that — we want to challenge ourselves. I believe FC Paços de Ferreira will be very competitive and will cause us the usual problems, but we are here to overcome them.”

There is therefore no room to treat the match as a formality. Being top of the table raises the challenge, but the desired response is to overcome the problems posed by the opponent without abandoning their own high standards.

Gustavo Oliveira gave voice to the team’s mood: unity, confidence, and quality in their play. The midfielder, however, immediately put the brakes on any possibility of relaxation.

“The team is united, confident, and playing very well, but we cannot lower our level and we have to keep working.”

The sentence sums up the balance that defines Porto’s preview. The good moment is acknowledged, but it serves as a starting point to keep working, not as a reason to reduce the intensity.

In the midfielder’s view, continuing on this path requires attacking efficiency and defensive control. The formula presented is simple, but it leaves neither side of the game out.

“We have to do what we always do, starting with scoring goals, and control things defensively.”

The aim is to preserve what has allowed the team to win. Attacking and defending are presented on the same level of responsibility, in an approach that seeks to maintain control of the match.

The return to Pedroso also brings the fans’ support to the center of the preview. José Miranda highlighted the positive atmosphere experienced in home matches and made an appeal for Sunday.

“The atmosphere at home games has always been very positive and supportive of our team — we have felt that — so we hope to once again have everyone supporting us on Sunday and celebrating our goals.”

Gustavo Oliveira reinforced the importance of that presence, especially when the team plays on its own ground.

“The support of our fans has been fantastic, especially when we play at home. It is even better, and it is always very good to have that support.”

Coach and player share the same idea: Pedroso has been a place of closeness between the team and the fans. In a start marked by victories, that support is presented as part of the atmosphere the Dragons want to feel again.

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