“Dragão in the opener? We must be ready for the highest level” | OneFootball

How do you feel arriving at Alverca? “I want to thank them for this opportunity that was given to me. It is an honor to be an active part of the club’s growth and to help it achieve bigger goals.”

What was your first impression of Alverca? “The first impression was very positive. There are people working here who are very passionate about the club and want to help it grow. The main concern is, of course, the work with the players and making them perform and reach other levels. This squad has enormous potential and, in this first contact, I feel they are all buying in with great ambition. One of the traits of our coaching staff is that we want boldness and high standards, and for the players to understand the logic behind doing things so they can push themselves further and transform. We want to take the team to other levels of demand, with a different version from last season, which was fantastic.”

Playing FC Porto and Sporting in the opening rounds? “It’s good, we have to prepare ourselves for the highest level. We are expecting a challenging season and all teams have different characteristics. We had to go to the Dragão either in the first or the 15th round, and we look at that first match and the schedule positively.”

Is it special to start against FC Porto? “We have to approach each game differently, with an identity that will be our strength and our standard. We have to be capable of competing against anyone and showing that the players can get better with every game.”

With FC Porto’s under-19s you played in a 4-4-2. Will you continue to rely on that system? “It is important to understand what already exists and to see the ability of the players and the squad we have so we can maximize them collectively. There is no preferred style.”

After beginning to coach FC Porto’s under-19s two years ago, did you expect to reach the top flight so quickly? “It was always a goal. I have been through very demanding environments, even though my roles did not carry as much responsibility. I have always been very demanding of myself and I believe we must always expect the best from ourselves. I was preparing myself, but we only truly feel ready when we are put to the test. And I recognize that this decision was an act of courage by Alverca.

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