João Costa: “We’ll be ready when the serious games begin” | OneFootball

Despite the 1-0 defeat to Gil Vicente, João Costa emphasized the level of demand inherent in every FC Porto match. The player felt the team responded with commitment in a particularly tough game and turned attention to the more important fixtures ahead. On a personal level, he reinforced his intention to keep working every day, stay available, and respect the coach’s choices. His message was simple: “improve.”

After the final whistle, the Porto player addressed the result calmly and without drawing distinctions between matches. In his view, the defeat does not change the team’s identity, which must continue to compete to win and prepare for the most demanding stages of the season.

Following the defeat against Gil Vicente, João Costa rejected the idea that the match could be seen as a mere formality. The midfielder once again highlighted the ambition that must always accompany FC Porto and the importance of a collective response to the demands placed on the team.

“At FC Porto we always play to win. There are no friendlies,” he said. “The team competed and gave its best on a day that was very demanding. I know this team will be ready when the games that really matter begin.”

His remarks showed a balanced assessment of the setback, while also making the player’s commitment clear. The result was acknowledged, although confidence is already focused on the truly decisive challenges ahead.

Asked about the possibility of earning more minutes over the course of the season, João Costa once again placed dedication at the heart of his answer. He said he was ready to take any opportunity, but made it clear that the decision belongs to the coach.

“I focus on giving my best every day. We are always ready to play more minutes, but it’s up to the manager to decide,” he explained. “I’m only focused on giving my best every day and improving.”

Staying ready to respond when called upon is therefore the player’s stated priority, as he sees every training session as another step in his development.

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