“FC Porto’s culture is all about hard work” | OneFootball

Diogo Costa was awarded the Player of the Year prize by the Zerozero portal and, in a lengthy interview given to the same outlet, reflected on the season in which he won the national title for the third time. Convinced that “the arrival of a new coach was what changed the dynamics,” the FC Porto captain describes Francesco Farioli as a coach “with a lot of quality for his age” and with “values very similar or even identical to FC Porto’s DNA,” stressing that he brought “new ideas, very good and very intense training methods.”

“FC Porto’s culture, ever since I’ve been here, has been about hard work, work, work, and working in silence, even when things go wrong. The boss brought that, he brought FC Porto’s values back again,” says the goalkeeper, who wants to “keep working and suffering in training so that matches become easier”: “I don’t know how to have any other DNA, any other culture, I’m very proud to be part of this region.”

Determined to “continue being an example and a help to everyone,” number 99 says he is “willing to suffer for success” and feels “uneasy” when that does not happen — “when I’m going home, in the car, my legs have to hurt” — arguing that this ability to push through “is more than half the battle won for achieving success.” “Very proud to be a Porto fan,” Diogo Costa guarantees that he will “always give my life for FC Porto,” the club that inspires in him “a special love and a different kind of love.”

What changed from 2024/25 to 2025/26“It was very different from last season. To be very direct and very simple, I think the arrival of a new coach, Mister Farioli, was what changed the dynamics of our style of play. A very young coach, with a lot of quality for his age, for the experience he has… that was the main point. He is a coach whose values are very similar or even identical to FC Porto’s DNA.”

Farioli came, saw and conquered“The boss had that desire to win his first title. I believe that, because of what happened at Ajax, he also came a bit frustrated by what he had gone through. And I think that even he felt that, as we kept playing, that desire he had to win a title was very close, that it could be possible. I think the main point was the arrival of our coach, because he came with new ideas, very good training methods, very intense ones, and I think that was always our biggest weapon in this league, as well as the confidence the boss had in making all those team rotations. I think the style he got us used to, his ideas, was always about giving confidence to all the players, so that all the players could be at their best and, in a way, that it would provide a foundation for what the season was, what our season was going to be. For me, honestly, that was the point where it all began, where everything changed for the better.”

The death of Jorge Costa“It’s a moment that I will never… Everything that happened with him, I think I will never forget such a bad day. But I also think it gave us a lot of strength, because we weren’t playing just for ourselves, we were playing for Jorge too. Because of the character Jorge had, he made everyone like him right away, from the first day of pre-season. All the players, all the staff, the whole coaching team, we had something extra to do for a certain person, and that was an even greater motivating factor, being willing to suffer in the matches so that, in the end, we could win the league.”

United by the Captain“We had a board with Jorge Costa’s name on it and we all signed that board with the commitment to do more than what is expected, for him. And we all signed that board, which was with us at every match, along with a shirt hanging there, so it was something we took with us to every game.”

FC Porto DNA“Honestly, I don’t know how to be any other way, because I’ve spent my whole life here at FC Porto, in the city. I went to Casa Dragão when I was 15 and started living there. I don’t know how to have any other DNA, any other culture, I’m very proud to be part of this region, we are people who are always willing to suffer for success.”

The setback in Rio Maior“I was actually going to talk about that game. In that match we realized what was really missing. And maybe what was missing was going five more meters. In other words, I think it was a very good wake-up call for the team.”

It served as a lesson“I think defeats are never good, but it was good to wake the group up again, to give us a warning. To understand that it wasn’t going to be an easy league, even though we had made a good start. Strategically, the other teams were already starting to understand how we play and we had to try to be more unpredictable, building from a base. But I’d point to that game against Casa Pia, it was the game that maybe made us turn up the voltage.”

The squandered advantages“Above all, they were moments of great frustration, of great powerlessness. But, once again, I think the team, in that respect, always behaved very well, we always wanted more every day. In fact, FC Porto’s culture, ever since I’ve been here, is hard work, work, work and working in silence, even when things go wrong. The boss brought that, he brought FC Porto’s values back again. It was a very important factor, I think the team behaved very well. With the help of my captains, we always managed to lift the group and get everyone in the same boat, always, every day.”

Stronger than adversity“In those moments, it’s about talking about what is wrong at that moment. We were always very brief and direct with each other, we saw what was wrong, kept working, kept suffering in training so that the matches would be easier. Work, work, work. Despite some inconsistencies, it was quite a consistent season.”

The man with the armband“I think that, overall, all my teammates respect me. They know I’m someone who has been at the club for some time, I’ve always felt affection from everyone, I’ve never felt any disrespect from anyone. I always tried to be an example for them, because I remember being younger and also looking at the homegrown examples, the players who were at FC Porto. And, deep down, I also want to continue being that example for them and, clearly, be a help to everyone. It was fundamental not only how they looked at me, but also with the arrival of some ‘old heads’. Everyone had great respect for everyone else and it’s very nice to look back on. I think they see a friend ready to help them and who always looks to the collective.”

The dressing-room leaders“I always felt respected by all the players, including (Jan) Bednarek, as well as with Thiago Silva’s arrival. And what I also tried to do was learn from them. They always helped me in that leadership role, just like all the other captains. But it was a very healthy connection, we are all looking to win. That’s more than half the battle won if we want to succeed.”

The partnership with Cláudio Ramos“We’ve been together at FC Porto for some time now, we have a really nice connection, while also having a lot of respect, with very similar principles. At Aves, that was exactly the feeling I had, that he didn’t deserve it. Because of the teammate he is, his principles, his character, the love he has won at the club since he arrived. He wasn’t a Porto fan and he will be a Porto fan until he dies. That was the feeling I had at that moment, right after the match, I had to hug him and show all the respect he has always shown me and I wanted to do the same for him.”

Being captain“I try to lead by example. I always learned that from older players and now I also try to set that example.”

Hard-working people“The foundation is the work on the pitch. When training sessions have more playful exercises, I don’t really identify with that anymore, because I had to work very hard to get here and, at the slightest thing, when something isn’t going the way I want, there’s a certain irritation inside me. Everything comes down to work. I also had good guidance in the academy, all the goalkeeper coaches, all the team coaches who passed on principles to me, as well as spending time with older players. There are many factors I can mention, food, sleeping well, training as much as possible, taking care of myself, recovery, but above all it’s that focus, that desire. I always have a thought in my head that is ‘I want to be willing to suffer for success.’ And I am willing to suffer for success. When I don’t suffer in training, I already start to feel uneasy. When I don’t feel difficulty in training, I get suspicious.”

The solution to every problem“We have to work more, I have to ask for more drills, I need to feel that, in every training session, I have to be exhausted. When I’m going home, in the car, my legs have to hurt, with muscle pain. That’s what I’ll always carry with me.”

Active rest“Very honestly, I don’t get much holiday to take revenge. There is time to rest, to be with family, which is always what I look for when I’m off. Then there has to be time to prepare for pre-season, or like now, I have to be ready for the World Cup.”

Extra weight after the holidays?

“I don’t have that problem. I think Sérgio Conceição taught me a valuable life lesson about what being a professional means, so I carry that with me for my whole life.”

Working with Sérgio Conceição“I remember the first times I came to train with him, I was coming from the academy, a bit overweight, and he said that wasn’t professional. Those life lessons that, looking back, I’m truly very grateful for — I’ll always have great affection for him and I carry that through my whole professional life.”

Family support“For me, family is everything. When I was five, my parents separated… and this is something I can open up about with anyone. I’m the son of divorced parents and I remember that at the time, when my parents divorced, it was my greatest family sorrow. Nowadays it’s something I don’t want to give to my children. Maybe that’s the biggest reason.”

Proudly from Porto“Yes, I’m very proud to be a Porto fan, to be from Porto. When I came to Portugal, I didn’t come straight to Porto, I went to Vila das Aves, but that love grew a lot when I came to Casa Dragão. As time went by, my family even started saying, ‘you’re already speaking just like someone from Porto, even with the accent’… There’s no escaping it. When the energy catches you, you go with a good energy, a healthy one. I’m very proud to be a Porto fan, to live here in Porto, and for as long as I’m here I will always give my life for FC Porto.”

Inheriting the number 2 shirt?“Obviously I feel very honored by that challenge from the president, but at the same time it’s a number with a lot of responsibility. It comes from a person (Jorge Costa) for whom I have a lot of affection. But it’s something I’m still thinking about. Then I have the World Cup to play and after that I’ll have time to make a decision. But it’s something that has to be thought through.”

The market uncertainties“I think that fear has already existed for about three years. What I’ve always tried to do is give my best wherever I am. And playing for this club is a special love, a different kind of love. I don’t think there’s much to think about in day-to-day terms, I think it’s something natural. Obviously, we are professionals, these are things that don’t depend only on me, but my focus right now is FC Porto. And that’s what will continue to happen.”

Passions outside football“I have this passion for driving, for having my little cars. I share that taste outside football with the president, it’s almost like an escape in my life. Obviously my main hobby is always being with my family. And the other one, maybe yes, is perhaps the second escape I have.”

The number one priority“I’m not fanatical about watching matches, obviously I do watch them, but when I get home, my focus is always on my family. I have two children, my wife, and I want to give them my full attention when I’m at home, because I already spend a lot of time away from home, so all the time I’m at home I give priority to my family.”

Phone put aside“It’s on silent all the time, no one should call me because it’s no use.”

Who he would give the Player of the Year award to“I think I’d give it to (Victor) Froholdt. The energy he brought us for our style of play is really huge, there’s no getting around it. He is a key piece, he gave us a lot of fuel and it would be completely deserved if it went to him.”

And outside FC Porto?“Maybe Trincão. He’s a player who has evolved a lot, grown a lot, and I admire him. I also know him from the national team level… I think I’d give it to Trincão.”

World Cup around the corner“I think the expectation is quite obvious: we all want to win the World Cup. I think we should take it game by game, because I’ve already had experiences of thinking about the final and forgetting to do what matters in the present. Obviously we are a national team with a lot of quality. We have a generation that is truly very rich in quality, and not only technical quality. When I say quality, I mean a set of factors, but obviously we expect to win the World Cup, also because we really want to play it for Diogo Jota and his brother. Obviously that is one more source of strength for this World Cup, but I think now, also as captain speaking about FC Porto, we should think game by game and stay united. Expectations are very high. I think all of us, the national team players, feel that responsibility to represent the country well and that’s what we are going to do.”

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