Vasco Botelho: “We can handle the intense pressure from FC Porto” | OneFootball

Vasco Botelho da Costa stated this Sunday that FC Porto is the "most competent team" in the Primeira Liga, in anticipation of the match at Estádio do Dragão, scheduled for Monday and part of the ninth round.

Challenge Difficulty: "[FC Porto] has been a very competent team, the intensity they bring to the game, the speed at which the ball moves, the versatility of the team, which doesn't always play short but also knows how to play long. It is, without a doubt, the most competent team in the league, the standings show that."

Moreirense's Response: "I am convinced that we will find spaces and understand where to hurt FC Porto. We have to rely on our abilities, we will have the ball at certain moments and we can withstand the strong pressure that FC Porto applies, just as we did at Alvalade [3-0 defeat] up to a certain point," he said.

Insights from the clash with Nottingham and Benfica: "It's interesting to see that there are certain strategies that can counter a bit of what FC Porto's game is," but he noted that the players are not the same, so "it's not that straightforward," although it offers "some insights into what could be the path" for Moreirense.

Differences from the five main clubs of the Primeira Liga: "I will always position the five big clubs of our league [FC Porto, Sporting, Benfica, Braga, and Vitória de Guimarães] on a different level, it's almost like we're playing two championships within one given the differences. We work so that this doesn't weigh on us, we took lessons from the Fafe and Nacional games, what we need to correct in both defensive and offensive moments to also become a very versatile team."

Moreirense faces FC Porto at 8:15 PM on Monday, at Estádio Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas, in Moreira de Cónegos. The match will be refereed by João Gonçalves, from the Porto Association.

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