“At FC Porto, I fell in love with football again” | OneFootball

On a “unique day” experienced in the “special place” where she learned to “love playing football again,” Mariana Azevedo recalled “the start of a very beautiful journey” with FC Porto’s women’s team and, after renewing her contract, reinforced her desire to “honour the shirt as the Club deserves.” “It’s a feeling only we know. I feel that this shirt carries a certain responsibility, and knowing that I made the fans happy is something indescribable,” said the 30-year-old defender, determined to “play to the fullest for FC Porto and take the Club to the highest levels of women’s football.”

Total commitment“It’s a unique day. I think all players aspire to this and, above all, it’s the beginning of a very beautiful journey. I hope to honour this shirt as the Club deserves.”

Together from day one“When I arrived, we immediately had a game at Valadares’ presentation and I felt a really good spirit. I had only trained twice and went straight into the match. At the time, Sofia (Silva) was injured and I took Mariana (Queirós)’s place, and she made a gesture that really stayed with me. She gave me a big hug, was the first to encourage me, and told me what the coach wanted on the pitch. I think that says a lot about what our team is. We’re very close, we really like each other, and we’re always giving our all to make sure everything goes well.”

Her partner in central defence“Mariana Queirós is very mature. Her age says nothing about her. On the pitch, she looks like a fully mature player with many years of football behind her, and she’s also a young girl who wants to learn. She asks me things and I try to help, but I’ve also told her that she can give me a few tips too, because I listen to her as well. I think that’s what works really well with her and with the other defenders. We all learn from each other, and I think that’s what has been helping us win.”

Rediscovering her love for football“I was coming off a few difficult years. I had a ligament rupture and I wasn’t very happy in football, I wasn’t playing. At FC Porto, I fell in love with playing football again, I found an incredible group again, and I got everything back again. I was already very discouraged, I’m 30 years old, and I was already thinking that maybe in another year or two I’d retire, but not now. After this season, which was very good, and after finding an incredible team, I got that taste for football back again, the kind that sometimes gets lost a little with professionalism.”

Wearing blue and white“It’s a feeling only we know. I feel that this shirt carries a certain responsibility, and knowing that I made the fans happy is something indescribable.”

The cup run“Considering everything we did along the way, of course sealing the league title was a special day, but I think people didn’t expect so much from us in the Portuguese Cup, and I think that’s what made us fight. In Guimarães, we were losing 2-0, we came together, and that took us through to Jamor. That was one of the most memorable moments because it showed our resilience.”

A family in the dressing room“I think that, above all, it’s down to this team, and that’s what makes it special. I always say this team is special. I’ve been through many clubs, but I feel this is a special place, and I’m sure we’re going to have another great season and honour this shirt once again.”

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