Miguel Maria: "Let’s go out there and show what it means to be Porto" | OneFootball

After the third defeat in Group B of the FIBA European Cup, the focus shifts to the Portuguese Basketball League and the 6th matchday, which includes a trip to the Pavilhão da Luz in Lisbon and a classic match against Benfica (Saturday, 2:30 PM, RTP2). On the other side is "a strong Benfica," which makes the game "difficult," but Miguel Maria assures that the Porto team will take the field to give "a Porto response," with "grit, determination, and confidence." FC Porto has eight points, two less than the leader Benfica.

Reacting is essential“We are here to prepare well for Saturday's game. We know we can't lose two games in a row, we want to turn that around, and there's nothing better than playing at Luz, against our rival, and giving a strong response, a Porto response.”

Benfica remains a benchmark“It's a strong Benfica, as has been the norm in recent years. They haven't lost in the League yet, they recently beat one of the leaders of the French League, and therefore, we expect a difficult game, but we are going there to show what it means to be Porto, with grit, determination, and confidence.”

Lack of consistency is concerning“I think we lack consistency, above all, and some freshness in decision-making moments. The truth is that I feel a lack of freshness to make clear decisions in the final parts of the games, which are always important. It's important to reach those moments well, both physically and mentally. We also need to find more solid foundations in defensive terms.”

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