Miguel Coelho: “This team never gives up and fights hard” | OneFootball

“The differences are obvious” and that was clear on the pitch. FC Porto defeated the newly-promoted Esmoriz by a comfortable margin, and Miguel Coelho said he was “happy with the 3-0, knowing that trying to present different things can lead to some mistakes.” Pleased with a team “that doesn’t give up, fights hard, shows up every day to train, and is happy doing so,” the coach explained that the players were “put through a lot” to prepare them for the “very interesting challenges” ahead that will “put the blue and whites to the test”: “The team wants these challenges, they’re eager, it’s a good kind of anxiety, and all that’s left for us is to work.”

Natalia Murek included among the captains“She adapted very quickly, showed the right character and personality from the very first moment by giving up her vacation to start working before the season began. She came six weeks early to work on the field and in the gym. She’s shown a great desire to represent the Club and has a lot of energy—the other players even say they have to hold her back because sometimes she has too much energy. These aspects, unrelated to talent, fit very well with the profile of the Club and the team.”

Match analysis“The differences are obvious. The team has a lot of respect for all opponents, but that’s how it is. We took the opportunity to try out a few things and to give recognition to those who help us so much during the week, like Bruna, who got the chance to play three sets and deserved it. In a week complicated by injuries and illnesses, we took the opportunity to reintegrate Mika, who had been out for a few days, as well as Kelsey and Ana. I’m happy with the 3-0, knowing that trying to present different things leads to some mistakes, like with the two middle blockers, where we couldn’t close the first ball. Trying things out in competition is good, but we could have kept the scores in the first sets a bit lower. It’s not just the game that makes me happy, but the weeks of work, which have left a clear image of the team: they don’t give up, they fight hard, they show up every day to train, and they’re happy doing it, which is important for us.”

Reunion with Ivo Rodrigues“It’s been a few years now, we were junior champions at Leixões and played together in the senior team. It seems like there’s a new generation of coaches starting to appear. Ivo faces a tough first division project, but I’m sure he’ll give it his all, and I want to wish him and Esmoriz the best of luck.”

The demanding schedule ahead“It was a week where we knew there was a clear difference compared to the opponent, and we pushed the team hard. The load was given this week, but we used it to fine-tune and bring in some different things, so that they have clean weeks and arrive well for the upcoming weekends. These are very interesting challenges that will put the team to the test. The team wants these challenges, they’re eager, it’s a good kind of anxiety, and all that’s left for us is to work.”

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