FC Porto under-17s target win at Seixal in Benfica clash | OneFootball

FC Porto’s U17 team heads into the clássico against Benfica needing just one point to secure the National Champion title, but José João kept his message focused on the essentials: compete, preserve their identity, and win in Seixal. With four matchdays still to play in the Championship Phase of the National Juniores B Championship, the coach highlighted consistency, emotional control, and the Dragons’ competitive DNA as the pillars of a morning he expects to demand the very maximum. And he made one thing clear: “what we really want is to win and be Porto.”

Previewing a match with huge weight in both the standings and its symbolism, José João delivered a simple but demanding message: when the pressure rises, there are no shortcuts. The FC Porto U17 coach steered the conversation toward identity and competitive discipline, refusing to let the magnitude of the moment distract the team from what he considers fundamental.

Asked about the team’s condition and how they are approaching a clássico following last weekend, José João was clear in calling for balance between ambition and control. His tone was confident, but with no room for emotional excess.

“The team is doing well and is extremely eager to win so we can reverse what was the result of last weekend. Of course it’s a clássico, a different and special game that brings extra motivation, but we have to approach it the same way we approach all the others,” he said. “We cannot let emotion override reason, and we are very clearly identified with our style of play. We have to remain consistent if we want to get another three points. We are focused on winning because that is the purpose of this Club.”

In the coach’s words, there is a clear sense of competitive maturity that serves as a reference point for the match. The clássico is recognized as special, but it only makes sense if it is played without compromising the principles that sustain the team.

When the subject turned to the title being so close, José João was keen to dismiss any idea of calculation. He insisted that the focus had not been on the possibility of celebration, but solely on the clash with Benfica.

“We haven’t talked about that during the week, our focus is only on beating Benfica. We are not worried about becoming champions there; what we really want is to win and be Porto. We want to go into the match with enormous determination and desire, with the grit that defines FC Porto’s DNA,” he stressed. “Our focus is on what comes before the final result; that is what has driven this team since day one. We do not hide the fact that it is a special game against a direct rival, but above all we look at our own DNA.”

This is an approach that clearly shows how the coach tries to protect the team from the euphoria of the moment. Instead of looking at the finish line, José João keeps the players focused on the process, on identity, and on the high standards he associates with the badge.

In his analysis of the match, the coach predicted a balanced game, decided by small details. And he pointed to two aspects that could be decisive: the defensive response and the wear caused by the heat.

“It will be an intense game, decided by details. We have to be very alert to every detail, and the players have to be aware of their decision-making,” he explained. “We are going to have to defend well, and we also have to be mindful of the heat, because it can create extra fatigue, but the team is already mature enough to understand that. We look at the game with optimism, passion, and ambition. We really want to play these games and be on these stages.”

The picture that emerges is of a team ready for a test of the highest demand without giving up the right attitude: without anxiety and without getting carried away. Just the combination of clarity, intensity, and the ambition to rise to an occasion where, for José João, the difference begins long before the final whistle.

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