Tomás Handel: “FC Porto are always contenders to win a European trophy” | OneFootball

Tomás Handel was a starter for Red Star in the defeat against FC Porto at Estádio do Dragão. He was involved in the play leading to the Serbian team's goal, but near the end, Rodrigo Mora secured the victory for the Portuguese, a result that left the midfielder disappointed, especially with the manner in which the goal was scored.

«As you can imagine, it's difficult to react after conceding a goal in the last minutes. This can't happen in a competition like this, with the demands that the competition imposes, we can't concede a goal like that in the last minutes. After a balanced game, of course, we often gave possession to FC Porto, but it was part of our game plan, successfully, because it was a possession of FC Porto controlled by us, where they couldn't create great opportunities. Of course, we played against a great team, we knew that, but we also had our opportunities, we managed to find the spaces we wanted, we could have scored goals. We couldn't leave here with an advantage, we leave here with zero points, unfortunately, but we will continue to hold our heads high, to work, because I am sure that with the mentality we have inside the locker room, as we are at the moment, we will achieve good things in the competition,» he began by saying, in an interview with Sport TV, downplaying the changes in Farioli's starting eleven.

«I'll be honest, of course, we brought a game plan and have an idea of who we might play, but we focused more on ourselves than on the opponent, because the game plan remained the same, whether other 11 or these 11 played. Therefore, the most important thing was us, we managed to fulfill the game plan. Once again, I say, we played against a great team, we will continue to work, because I think we are on the right path. We have players of great quality, a new team, getting to know each other, I myself am adapting as quickly as possible to the player's ideas and I am sure that with the right mentality we will achieve victories in this competition,» he explained, addressing the next game against SC Braga, again in Portugal.

«Yes, it's true, but we are in the Europa League, all matches are difficult. All games will require the maximum from each of us, only then can we achieve victories, and that's what we will try to do. FC Porto as a contender? Yes, FC Porto, due to its enormity in European football, is always a contender to win a European competition. As we can see, this year they are doing very well, having a lot of success. I hope not, I hope it will be us,» he said, commenting on the possibility of representing Austria.

«There is that possibility, but at the moment I am not focused on that, I am focused on the club. We now have another league game and then we will see,» he concluded.

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