João Brandão and Chaves: “A challenge, but we want to respond well” | OneFootball

FC Porto B host Chaves at 6pm this Monday in a match from the 28th round of the league. João Brandão wants his side to respond after three straight matches without a win in Liga Meu Super, although he believes this could be one of Chaves’ last chances to “get back into the promotion race”.

“That was their main objective for this season. Chaves are packed with capable and experienced players, and they have Roberto, one of the all-time top scorers in the Segunda Liga. It is a huge challenge for us, but we want to give a strong response after this international break. We want to start this run through to the end of the season in the best possible way,” said the blue-and-white coach.

Will the first-leg win have any influence? “Every game is a different story, and a different story will be written. We very much want to take the three points, but we also have to focus on the path to victory and not only on the end goal.”

What aspects need improving? “In the last few games, our attacking efficiency is something we have not been as good at. What we have created and produced has not translated into goals. That is one of the areas we need to improve.”

Several players away on international duty: “First of all, it is a huge source of pride to see the way our players performed for their different national teams. There were 18 players in total, nine from the B team. Our captain [Gabriel Brás] also represented his national team as captain, and that shows the growth of all of them, but especially of him. It was a tremendous opportunity for our players to experience the level of demand in the first team and feel firsthand the level they need to reach in order to establish themselves there. Only then can they make their greatest dream come true, which is to play for FC Porto’s first team. There is also the less positive side, which was the players’ absence, along with some others we have limited, but whoever plays will do so with tremendous desire and tremendous pride in representing FC Porto. The path we have followed this season deserves to be reflected in wins and points in this new run.”

Gabriel Brás proud to wear the armband

Back from an international break in which he represented Portugal’s Under-21s, Gabriel Brás spoke about the similar competitive context of the two groups. “It is part of my growth and my work. I am very happy to represent my country, and what I do with the national team is what I do at FC Porto. I do not change the way I am or the way I play. That is what drives me,” stressed the 22-year-old centre-back, aware of the “responsibility” that comes with being one of the most important members of the Porto squad: “Even if I were not one of the captains, if there is one thing everyone must have within themselves, it is responsibility. Of course, being captain gives me extra responsibility, but I take that naturally and every day I try to help my teammates and my team.”

To finish, Gabriel Brás also made an appeal for a strong turnout at Olival for the home match against the team from Trás-os-Montes. “The fans are always important, and at our Club even more so. We feel their presence strongly and in every game they support us, they are an extra source of strength for us,” he said.

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