João Costa: “Jorge Costa pushed hard for me to come back” | OneFootball

João Costa recalled the season in which FC Porto returned to the national title and painted a deeply personal picture of the dressing room, the figures who left their mark on him, and an ambition that remains fully intact. The goalkeeper spoke about Jorge Costa’s influence, how he tried to support teammates like Rodrigo Mora and Bednarek, and also about the future of Diogo Costa and the response their rivals may produce. Along the way, he made it clear that demanding standards remain the starting point and guaranteed: “the best is always yet to come.”

Looking back on a season of collective affirmation, João Costa came across with a message shaped by memory, belonging, and responsibility. The FC Porto goalkeeper reflected on the past without casting himself in a secondary role and built a central idea throughout the conversation: at the Dragão, influence is also measured beyond the minutes spent on the pitch.

When the subject turned to Jorge Costa, the tone changed immediately. More than a memory, he emerged as a personal and club reference point, someone who, according to the goalkeeper, was decisive in bringing him back home.

“He was one of the people who pushed hardest for me to come back here, and he had also tried to sign me more than once when he was a coach,” he said. “I spent far too little time with him at our club, and he was someone who left a mark on me. He was an idol, a club legend, someone I identified with as a Porto supporter; he embodied FC Porto’s values at all times and, since the irreparable loss we suffered, if there was one thing I tried to do in a certain way, it was to represent him through those values and by passing on our DNA and our spirit.”

There is more than gratitude in these words. There is also a clear desire to carry on a legacy, to make daily presence a way of representing a certain way of being FC Porto.

That more discreet side of the dressing room surfaced again when João Costa spoke about Rodrigo Mora. There, the goalkeeper replaced analysis with care, describing a bond built through routine and protection.

“I spent all my time with Rodrigo Mora and always tried to help him because of the season he had. He had come off being a major protagonist and this season… at his age, I gave him as much affection as I could, we built a unique friendship and I’m immensely proud to see the man he is today.”

The praise is not limited to the player and points directly to the person. João Costa comes across as a source of support, someone who understood the weight of the context and chose to stay close when that made the most sense.

The same pattern emerged in his conversations with Bednarek, another of the names brought into the spotlight. João Costa described a relationship built on questions, sharing, and context, as if the dressing room were also built around the table.

“I spent a lot of time with Bednarek; he was my table partner during training camps, on my left-hand side,” he explained. “He often asked me what the matches would be like, how difficult this stadium or that one was, what this game or that game meant for the club. He also asked me about the club’s history, and we had many conversations about that. Today we see a true Porto man there, but I could give other examples. I made a point of supporting them and trying, in a way, to help them.”

The picture is revealing of leadership without an armband, grounded in the day-to-day work of guidance. João Costa suggests that the club’s identity is not passed on automatically: it is learned, handed down, and reinforced every day.

When the conversation turned to his lack of minutes, the answer stayed in the same vein of calm ambition. Without hiding his desire to play more, the goalkeeper refused to reduce his role to a simple count of appearances.

“I always ask for more minutes. That’s the same for all professionals,” he stressed. “We all want to play as much as possible, but I made history at the club this year with the minutes I had, so of course I always want more minutes. But my future at the club will not depend on having more or fewer minutes; I truly believe that the best is always yet to come. If my message, my season, and my purpose were fulfilled this year, next year will be even better.”

The line carries weight and intent: João Costa claims his relevance without dramatizing his competitive situation. It is a way of asserting his place and projecting the future, always from the idea of a mission accomplished, but still incomplete.

Asked about Diogo Costa, the goalkeeper chose to praise rather than speculate. He acknowledged his teammate’s status and spoke as both a teammate and a Porto supporter, without placing himself at the center of a situation he is not meant to decide.

“I know Diogo is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. I have no doubt that he could attract interest from some of the best clubs in the world, but the greatest proof Porto fans can have is how long he has already been here,” he acknowledged. “That doesn’t worry me. He should follow what his heart tells him and, up to today, his heart has led him to stay here. So it’s not for me to say whether Diogo should stay or not, but as a Porto supporter I’m immensely proud that he has been here for so many years, and I’ll take this opportunity to encourage him to stay here for many more.”

The message combines realism and hope without contradiction. João Costa accepts Diogo Costa’s market value, but clings to the emotional bond as the main argument for continuity.

Looking ahead, the euphoria of the title gave way to vigilance. João Costa rejected any reading of weakness among their opponents and placed FC Porto under even greater pressure in defending the status they had won.

“I think we also have to look closely at our own example. Who would have said, a year ago, that we would be here today talking about an FC Porto side that are champions and with the strength they have right now?” he said. “So I don’t see weakness in our rivals. I believe they will prepare even better, just as we did this season. That should only lead us to keep our guard up and never lower it. It has to drive us to maintain the aspiration of wanting to be champions again. It will be even harder than this year, because our rivals will prepare even better, but I’m sure we’ll be up to it.”

It is a statement that closes the circle of the interview: memory, mutual support, and ambition, always with the guard up. In the portrait João Costa paints of himself and the group, the title does not represent an end point; it is simply the next obligation beginning to take shape.

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