Diogo Costa unsure of future at FC Porto, explains No 2 snub | OneFootball

Diogo Costa spoke about the Super Cup against Torreense in a calm tone, despite the demands that come with the start of the new season. In the build-up to the match, the FC Porto goalkeeper discussed his physical recovery, preparation for the opponent, his choice of the number 99 shirt, and the possibility of leaving the club, a subject on which he offered one assurance: “I’m very happy here.”

After returning to work following his holidays, Diogo Costa answered journalists’ questions about his physical condition, the prospect of winning another trophy, and his future. The Portugal international highlighted the importance of rest, the need to maintain concentration levels, and the team’s collective ambition, but avoided committing himself to staying beyond the present moment.

With only a short preparation period after a particularly demanding season, the goalkeeper considered the break essential, dismissing the idea that his later return could affect his fitness for Saturday’s clash.

“I think the rest I needed was also important here, because it was a season in which I played almost 70 matches,” he explained. “It was very important to have the necessary rest so I could be fresher for Saturday’s game. In any case, two weeks isn’t going to make me lose so much of my physical condition that I won’t be ready.”

The player admitted that the goalkeeper position requires specific care, even if endurance is not the most decisive aspect.

“It involves other things, but it’s not as demanding in terms of endurance, so to speak.”

Confidence therefore dominates Diogo Costa’s remarks, as he sees rest and daily work as the foundation for returning in good condition, without attaching particular importance to the time spent away from the pitch.

Torreense will be the first hurdle of the season, but FC Porto are approaching the match with no room for complacency. Diogo Costa explained that the analysis of the opponent went beyond the game against Sporting, focusing on the identity the team has shown throughout the season.

“Yes, we didn’t just analyse that match against Sporting, we analysed everything that makes up Torreense’s identity throughout the whole season,” he stressed. “As I said, they are a team that deserves our respect and that is exactly what we will show.”

Asked about the main dangers posed by the team from Torres Vedras, the goalkeeper stuck to the same line of thinking: FC Porto will have to be prepared for every moment of the game.

“They can bring all kinds of situations that the game may demand. The respect they deserve speaks for itself,” he said. “In every situation, whether set pieces or whatever the game demands, we will be at the highest possible level of concentration. It’s a game to win, it’s a final, and we will respect Torreense in the way they deserve.”

The remarks reflect preparation built on constant concentration and respect for the opponent, regardless of how the match unfolds.

In a game in which FC Porto are expected to take much of the initiative, the goalkeeper may go long periods without being called into action before having to respond in a decisive moment. Diogo Costa explained that this ability is worked on daily, from the earliest years.

“Obviously, the concentration aspect has to be very high. Being an FC Porto player, one of our own, I think I’ve always been trained for exactly that since I was young: to play for a big team,” he said. “It’s something that is already part of everyday life, it’s already a habit to prepare myself for those types of interventions where, perhaps, I may only have to make one, but it will have to be very important or very difficult. Obviously, concentration levels are fundamental, but all the daily work we do in training is the most important foundation.”

For the Porto goalkeeper, training-ground preparation is what allows him to stay alert when the ball rarely comes into the box. The response in the decisive moment is therefore the result of a routine built over time.

The aim is also to do better than last season. Diogo Costa pointed to identity, humility, and collective improvement as pillars for a team that intends to keep fighting for trophies.

“We want to raise our standards in terms of identity. We will do everything we did last year, but we want to improve in every aspect as a team and as a club,” he assured. “The thought of becoming two-time champions won’t be on our minds; we will be very humble and approach every game like a final, just as we did last season. I think we should follow that mentality that so strongly defines FC Porto.”

The Super Cup will be the first opportunity to put that ambition into practice. Diogo Costa believes the importance of the trophy is self-evident.

“It’s a title. I don’t think there’s anything more important than the word itself,” he said succinctly. “It’s another title to our name, and a club like FC Porto lives for that. That’s what we want to honour.”

The match against Torreense therefore carries the status of a final that FC Porto want to win, while keeping intact both their respect for their rivals and the identity they aim to strengthen.

The choice of shirt number was also in the spotlight. Invited by André Villas-Boas to take the number 2, associated with Jorge Costa and João Pinto, Diogo Costa chose to keep the 99, although he acknowledged the historical importance of that legacy.

“First of all, I’m extremely grateful to our president for giving me that challenge. I feel very honoured and proud that he sees me as an important person in this club,” he admitted. “But I think continuing on my own path was also important. What happened with Jorge is something that is still very fresh in my memory, and I think it is something we should continue to honour and pay tribute to. It was very much about that, about wanting to keep following my own path, while respecting the legacy that number carries.”

The decision to keep 99 therefore does not represent any devaluation of the history linked to the number 2. Rather, it is about preserving a personal journey while still respecting the figures who made it symbolic at FC Porto.

Naturally, the possibility of a departure came up again in the context of the transfer market. Diogo Costa did not guarantee that the Super Cup or the days that follow could not coincide with a farewell, but he again stressed how happy he is to represent the club.

“I’ve been linked with leaving this club for some time now. As I’ve done up to now, what I can say is that I’m very happy here and, while I’m here, I will always be the same player and the same person.”

On the possibility of remaining at FC Porto after 31 August, the goalkeeper answered without anticipating any scenario.

“If after that day I’m still here, then of course I will be.”

Diogo Costa also reaffirmed his desire to win more titles, but acknowledged that professional football is marked by change. While he remains at the club, he guarantees that his commitment will be total.

“As I said, I’m very happy here, I very much want to keep winning titles for FC Porto,” he assured. “But we all know what the life of a professional player is like. It’s something I can’t promise, but what I can promise is my work and my commitment, as I have done since I started playing for the first team.”

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