Hugo Oliveira: FC Porto are the most consistent and powerful side | OneFootball

Famalicão is three matches away from reaching an unprecedented milestone: appearing at Jamor, in the final of the Portuguese Cup – a goal the team has never achieved, although they have come very close twice. The first obstacle on this path is FC Porto; the Minho side will travel to Estádio do Dragão on Thursday to fight for a place in the next round. Hugo Oliveira states that the intention is to secure qualification and promises that Famalicão will give everything to achieve this goal, fully aware, however, of the challenges ahead.

“FC Porto has followed a path that demonstrates quality in their work and process. It has been a positive journey. FC Porto is leading the league with very interesting numbers and a strong emotional bond within the squad. You can see how united they are in their celebrations, and it’s clear that less successful moments in games don’t shake that. But we focus on ourselves. What brings us closer is that, within our characteristics and dimensions, we are teams that worry more about ourselves than about the opponent. Each team will want to stay true to its style, with different obligations, but with the same dreams. With different possibilities, but with possibilities for both sides,” analyzes the Minho coach.

Even though it’s a knockout match, Hugo Oliveira guarantees a bold team with the ambition to win. “It’s a great opportunity to compete and show quality against a strong opponent, who knows us well, and whom we know well. We want to show our way of being in every game, which is an assertive way to compete and win. This is a different competition. The Cup means the game must be decided. There can only be one winner and Famalicão plays to win. We will play to win and move on to the next round,” assures Hugo Oliveira.

The two teams have already met in the league, in a match that favored FC Porto. Hugo Oliveira points out what was missing then and what can be changed this time. “We lacked some peace in that game. Playing against good, very capable teams requires peace and confidence so you don’t stray from our game principles. We had good moments, but in other good moments we couldn’t find the peace and calm to follow that path. We went for the more emotional side, lost the ability to control the game, even without dominating, and in these games you need that. FC Porto is a dominant, aggressive team. We have to be able, in the midst of the fireworks, to remain calm and serene. That’s what we’re going to show against these opponents. This season we’ve had well-achieved performances, but against these opponents we need to be more consistent. That’s what we’re going to do tomorrow. The most important thing, still, is to get to the end and go through. The Cup means getting through rounds to reach the most beautiful day in Portuguese football. We dream of that and we’re going to work to get one step closer to Jamor,” he says.

The sequence of games is demanding – after visiting the Dragão, Famalicão travels to Luz to face Benfica – but Hugo Oliveira says the focus is on the Cup and refuses to anticipate significant changes in the opposing team. He says he believes that competitive overload tends to have more of an emotional cost than a physical one and that FC Porto’s routine, used to playing throughout the week and on weekends, is a model to follow. These successive competitions, he says, are opportunities for learning and growth for players and the club. He also recalls that he has already made rotations in other matches, maintaining the team’s identity: “FC Porto has 20 starters, in my opinion. The changes aren’t very noticeable. In Famalicão,” he points out.

Francesco Farioli praised Hugo Oliveira and Hugo Oliveira, shortly after, praised Francesco Farioli. The Famalicão coach welcomed the words of recognition from his FC Porto counterpart ahead of the clash between the two clubs this Thursday, in a match for the Portuguese Cup, a duel that will pit teams with points of contact against each other.

“The ones who deserve congratulations are those leading the league. Normally, the table doesn’t lie. FC Porto has been the most consistent, most capable team, with the most power. The table shows they are the team with the most points in the league. It’s a strong team, with many alternatives, that plays to win. Famalicão has its own way of approaching the game, always looking at the opponent’s goal. But FC Porto knows its power, the quality of its teams. I understand that at certain moments in the game they identify with our team; we have a way of being that is sometimes relatively identifiable. We are teams that are simple to interpret, to analyze. But we are harder to stop. Simplicity is one of the most complex models to stop. FC Porto, playing at home and being the club it is, is the favorite, but Famalicão also always fights for victory and that’s what we’re going to do at FC Porto’s home,” assures Hugo Oliveira.

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