“If we focus on ourselves, we can make it 2-0” | OneFootball

After the 7-1 thrashing at Dragão Arena, the European Champions know they are one win away from securing a place in the championship play-off semi-finals. To do that, they will have to beat UD Oliveirense again on Wednesday at 9pm, live on Porto Canal, this time at the Dr. Salvador Machado Pavilion in Oliveira de Azeméis. Aware that they are up against “a very difficult rival” and one that is stronger “at home”, Pol Manrubia called on the Porto group to stay focused in order to maintain “good momentum”. “If we play our game and take the match our way, we have a good chance of winning and wrapping up the tie,” the Spaniard stressed. Ticket information is available here.

The emphatic win in Game 1“First of all, we’re going to face a very difficult rival, just as we did in the first game. I think we were very good in that match and managed to get a big result that gives us confidence for what’s coming, but we know the quality UD Oliveirense have, and winning the first game by a bigger or smaller margin means nothing. We’re in the play-offs, we’re ahead in the tie, and the game starts at 0-0, so we have to try to seal qualification for the semi-finals.”

Playing away is always harder“Playing in Oliveira de Azeméis is always difficult. They have a great team and we know the quality they have. They are stronger at home, just like we are, but I believe that if we play our game and take the match our way, we have a good chance of winning and closing out the tie. If we stay focused on ourselves, we can make it 2-0 and go through to the semi-finals.”

Keeping the good run going“We’ve been working very well and have managed to build very positive momentum, also because of winning the Champions League, which is always a historic achievement. We’re in a good moment, but that doesn’t mean we can’t lose at some point. The important thing is that the team is united and cohesive, which makes things easier. We work every day and take it game by game. We want to keep going along these lines.”

Going on stage at Avenida dos Aliados“It was incredible, indescribable, what we experienced. Very few people get to live this, what Porto is. It was a celebration of incredible magnitude. We celebrated a lot and were very happy, but now we’re already focused on the league.”

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