Diogo Costa: “We need each other to win trophies” | OneFootball

The satisfaction of extending “the story at home” until 2030 goes hand in hand with the ambition to “win even more.” Just a few days after renewing his commitment, Diogo Costa stated in an interview with the newspaper O Jogo that “unity is extremely important” for the team to be able to finish the season at the Aliados, “a very big goal” that “is very present in the captain’s mind”: “What I want most is to keep winning titles for FC Porto. My motivation will never run out. In fact, it keeps getting bigger.”

“I was extremely happy with our president’s project, who is trying his hardest to make the Club grow. I’m also very happy with the choice of coach. I admit that it’s one of the main reasons that made this renewal even easier for me,” he reveals about Francesco Farioli, someone “who brought the right mentality and demands” to a squad of “28 players who train every day to bring the best to the Club.” To these, Thiago Silva will now be added, a center-back whose “story represents the respect he deserves.”

In a direct message to the fans, after stressing that the ambition to give “everyone the experience” of celebrating titles works “as motivation, but without crossing the line so that we don’t get too big-headed,” he already set the target for 2026: “I hope that together we can win many more titles. We, Portistas, are different. I think you can see that in the games. We have a different mentality, a different aura, an enormous work ethic. And what I ask is that we stick together in good times and bad, because I’m sure that way it will be easier to bring titles to this Club.”

The renewal“Obviously it brings me a lot of happiness. We are very happy to continue this story in our home. I found many reasons for this renewal. I think all Portistas know what they can expect from me and I hope that in the future I will continue to help the Club in the best way.”

Ending my career at FC Porto“I’d be lying if I said yes, because I think nowadays we never know what tomorrow will bring, but as I’ve already admitted, it’s something that would make me extremely happy. I would truly be the most fulfilled man in the world, because, as everyone knows, my dream has always been to play here. And now the story continues and I hope there will be more games.”

The future of the Club“I was extremely happy with our president’s project, who is trying his hardest to make the Club grow. I’m also very happy with the choice of coach. I admit that it’s one of the main reasons that made this renewal even easier for me. What I want most is to keep winning titles for FC Porto, all together.”

Five years as the starting goalkeeper“I honestly think it brings more responsibility and more pressure. Looking at my whole journey, it’s something that makes me extremely grateful and my motivation will never run out. In fact, it keeps getting bigger. I will always try to help FC Porto win titles.”

A player and a man à Porto“Obviously in these 14 years I’ve become more mature, more responsible, even more so. I think in this life I always learned to be responsible earlier than I was supposed to for my age. But above all, what I want is to help my teammates to do what matters most, which is to win. I think this unity is extremely important and we all need each other to win and win titles.”

The meaning of wearing the armband“I never expected to be captain so soon, but it’s something that makes me proud as well, not just me but my family too. It’s an even better dream. Before, I doubted whether I would be the ideal captain for this FC Porto, but I think right now, yes. I’m also learning, I’m also dealing with other responsibilities. As the coach says, I should be satisfied and I hope that in the future I can be an even better captain.”

The leadership brought by the new signings“Of course. I think it’s very good to have all these energies together. The new players have the FC Porto mentality, which clearly makes my role and everyone’s role easier to do what matters most, which is to win.”

Player and fan“As a Portista, obviously in the bad moments it hurts much more. And then I also have the burden of playing my role as a player and captain. There is a lot of self-criticism. I admit that sometimes there is a lot of negativity. But we also have the good moments, which are always very special, as everyone can imagine. I think life is really like that. We have to be prepared and adapted for good and bad moments and that’s what will make us better people and better players. But what matters, above all, is my happiness at this Club, which is enormous.”

Francesco Farioli“Where I see the biggest change compared to the past was with coach Farioli. I think the coach brought the right mentality and demands. Day to day, he is very assertive in his ideas. The whole team is very satisfied with the coach. That has been the biggest difference.”

Individual records“I’m looking for victories. That’s what matters most to me at this Club. I don’t think I’m someone who pays much attention to those numbers. I value the day-to-day much more. A good training session, good preparation for what matters, which is always to win, that’s the most important thing.”

Space reserved for Clean Sheet awards“I do, I do, but if necessary, I’ll find more space.”

Cláudio Ramos and João Costa“Since I’ve been in the FC Porto first team, there has always been a good relationship among all the goalkeepers and mutual respect, but I admit that this year it’s been different, in a good way. I think the fact that we have three Portuguese goalkeepers, three Portista goalkeepers, is something special. I’m very grateful to have such fantastic teammates, with a winner’s mentality and I’m sure that together we can achieve very happy moments.”

A team defending and attacking“It’s a daily effort and work that starts in training, once again coming from the coach. This mentality has been created and I feel it’s getting stronger. I think today, in football, both to attack and to defend you need all eleven. It’s not just the goalkeeper’s merit or the defensive line’s, but the whole team and all 28 players who train every day to bring the best to the Club.”

Thiago Silva“It was a surprise, but I think, both for the players and for the Club, it’s a privilege to have Thiago with us. I think his story represents the respect he deserves. As the coach says, that’s what I also hope, that he’ll be another to help, that he’ll raise the quality level of our team even more. What matters is winning.”

Estela Costa’s words at the Dragões de Ouro“It was a very pleasant surprise, which caused a lot of emotion. I was particularly touched because obviously the longing for Jorge Costa exists. He was someone who made us feel almost as if he was playing with us, who passed on all his experience, who also helped me in my role as captain. He was someone who cared a lot about the players and all the moments we shared with him are indeed very significant. I will carry him with me for life.”

A mentor for life“What matters most is what I take from Jorge for life. I think it’s clear to everyone what Jorge is like as a person and as a player, and that’s really the beauty of it all. What makes him the man he is, the person he is, the player he was. Once again, I say, I will carry him with me for my whole life and I am extremely grateful to his family for the words and for all this recognition of identifying me with Jorge. I am very grateful and happy to hear her words and I hope once again that, with all this, we take FC Porto to the highest level.”

Jorge Costa’s presence in daily life“I try to think a little about what Jorge would do. In every situation I have to solve or face, I think a lot about what Jorge would do. As Estela said, we have very similar feelings, we have similarities. His mentality and the aura he had are aspects I will always carry with me in life. It’s really very significant.”

Method and discipline“I like to get a good night’s sleep. I’m practically one of the last to arrive, but also one of the last to leave. Routine is very important. Every day is a battle, we have to try to be better every day and that’s what I strive for.”

The locker room DJ“I admit that on match days I like to put on music. I think I should play music that helps motivate the team even more. I have some playlists for each moment. But it’s not just me who plays music. Some teammates do too. Usually before the game it’s me who plays it and it’s worked, so let’s hope it keeps working.”

The long-awaited return to the Aliados“Obviously I want to get back as soon as possible. I think we’ve gone a few years without trophies and that longing exists. I’m working to give my teammates the best tools through leadership. I always try to keep the team emotionally stable and with the right humility so that the Aliados come and so that everyone can have that experience. Some again and others for the first time. I also want to fulfill Mora’s dream. Obviously that’s always on my mind. It’s something we also use in our game talks. I think it’s something that has to be used as motivation, but also not to go overboard, so we don’t get too big-headed. It has to be present in every game, in every training session, to bring what really matters to a Club like this, which is titles. It’s a Club that loves to win, has a winning mentality regardless of what happens. So, of course, going to the Aliados is a very big goal.”

Goals for 2026“Obviously to win the three cups that are still to be played and won. As everyone knows, we also have the World Cup with the national team, a competition in which I also end up representing FC Porto as a city and country. That’s another goal, but the most important one always, and what took me to the national team, was what I do here at the Club. So, as I tell you, the Aliados are very present in my mind.”

The message to the fans“As everyone knows, the story continues. I hope that together we can win many more titles. We, Portistas, are different. I think you can see that in the games. We have a different mentality, a different aura, an enormous work ethic. And what I ask is that we stick together in good times and bad, because I’m sure that way it will be easier to bring titles to this Club.”

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