Pepê: “We really needed to win this title, and to do it this way…” | OneFootball

Winger Pepê looked back on the path he has been building at FC Porto in an interview with GloboEsporte, in which he said he is still waiting for a new opportunity with the Brazil national team.

The conversation began with his arrival at the Porto club, when he found a role model in fellow Brazilian Hulk and an example to follow in Luis Díaz: “When I arrived at FC Porto, everyone talked a lot about Hulk, and they still do today. He is one of the biggest idols in the club’s history. Since I arrived, I’ve tried, maybe one day, to get close to what he achieved. At the beginning, adapting was very difficult. The difference between European and Brazilian football is huge, especially in terms of intensity and the tactical and technical side. We really feel that when we arrive. But I always say I had help from Luis Díaz, who is phenomenal. He helped me a lot in that process. I watched his training sessions and matches closely to try to follow the same path and understand the football here better.”

Thinking about the present, he highlighted the way the team won the national title and the impact of that victory: “I’m very happy to have won this title, a very important title for all of us. We went some time without winning the league, and that was something everyone really missed, including our fans. We’re happy to have won the title again, putting together a great campaign and managing to play football that delighted people again. It was very good, very special. We went quite a long time without winning, and there was a very strong feeling that FC Porto needed to start winning again. And winning in the way we did, with the campaign we had, made it all even more deserved.”

Lastly, he spoke about his dream of representing Brazil, a goal he has already achieved, even if he has not yet appeared in a major tournament: “The national team is a dream, it always has been. Being able to experience those call-ups was something very special for me and my family. I felt firsthand how special it is to be there, and that motivates me even more to keep working and dreaming of a return.”

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