“We want to finish the season on a high” | OneFootball

FC Porto’s women’s football team season comes to an end at the Abel Alves de Figueiredo Stadium in Santo Tirso, where they will face top-flight side Valadares Gaia in the AF Porto Cup final (Saturday, 11am, Porto Canal).

After holding on to the “pride in the journey” in the Portuguese Cup, Daniel Chaves assures that the squad is already “focused on this next game” against an opponent that is “strong and has above-average individual quality,” especially because “being Porto means being in these kinds of games at a high competitive level, always competing for titles and reaching finals.” In the final stretch of a year in which the team “went toe to toe with First Division opponents,” goalkeeper Cora Brendle believes the final is “an incredible way to end the season”: “We worked very hard, trained intensely every day and we’re in the final, now we want to give our best and finish in the best possible way.”

Tickets are available at bilhetes.FC Porto.pt until 6pm this Friday. From 9:30am on Saturday, matchday, they can also be purchased at the venue’s ticket office.

Daniel Chaves

The defeat in the Portuguese Cup final“We were obviously sad about the result, but also proud of the journey we had and of the game we managed to play against our rival. Above all, we are focused on this next match.”

Valadares Gaia“We expect to face a strong Valadares Gaia side that we already know well. It is a team with individual quality above the average in Liga BPI and one of the best teams in the league, which is why they were fighting for the top three places. We expect a difficult game, especially because they are very strong in direct play, their forwards have quality and bring a lot of aggression to the game. We know they really want to win this cup and that is what we have in mind going into the match.”

The coaching change at the opponent“The players know the ideas and they know the coach. What could possibly have an effect is the way he left, but I don’t think that will affect the team. Valadares Gaia certainly really want to win this trophy, as they did last year.”

The same opponent, one year later“The only thing we can compare with last year is that even back then we wanted to approach the game to win, and this year it will be the same. We obviously know that we have grown as a team, in terms of quality, we have more experience and we have already played five matches against Liga BPI teams, which has also raised our competitive level. We feel more prepared to face an opponent like Valadares Gaia.”

High-level experiences“Yes, obviously. They are also getting used to a higher pace, the speed of the opposing players and the pressure that these finals end up bringing. We felt that very clearly in the first half of the final at Jamor. This is part of being at big clubs. It is something we also have to live with and prepare ourselves mentally for: if we want to be Porto, we have to get used to these kinds of games at a high competitive level. We always want to compete for titles and be in finals. Obviously, that leaves us just a small step away from winning them. We will also approach this district competition as an opportunity to end the season on a high, given everything we have done this year.”

The message to the fans“It is good to finish alongside those who have given us so much strength and supported us, those who have gone everywhere with us. We know it is not always easy for those who follow us on the trips we have ahead of us. The stadium is close by, we are counting on them to support us so we can finish together as a family, just as it has been throughout this season.”

Cora Brendle

The reaction to the setback at Jamor“We were upset about losing, but we stayed together and we are very proud to have been in the final and had the opportunity to play in front of so many Porto fans. We are very grateful to have reached the final.”

An opportunity to end the season with a win“It’s an incredible way to end the season. We achieved great things and played against several First Division teams, those are always interesting matches and we are excited for this game.”

In search of another title“We are proud to have reached the final. We worked very hard, trained intensely every day and we are in the final, now we want to give our best and end the season in the best possible way. We managed to raise our level and go toe to toe with First Division teams. Of course we may not be the favourites, because we come from the Second Division, but it is a great opportunity for us to grow.”

The first year in Invicta“I love the Club. I think I have grown a lot as a player and as a person. The squad gave me a lot of support in adapting to this new culture and my teammates made me a better goalkeeper.”

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