“Jorge Costa said FC Porto are a team again, we showed it on the pitch” | OneFootball

The 31st National Champion title in the blue-and-white honours list had already been secured a few weeks ago, but it was only this Saturday that the squad coached by Francesco Farioli lifted the long-awaited trophy, in front of a packed Estádio do Dragão, with more than 50,000 Porto fans in the stands. After the win against Santa Clara, which brought 2025/26 to a close, Pepê did not hide that “it is very good to be Champions again” and felt that the group “fully deserves” to end the season with “a big celebration.”

For Bernardo Lima, the latest academy player to officially become National Champion, “any academy player dreams of playing for the first team and becoming champion for the Club.” After all, “the feeling of someone who comes through the academy and has felt since childhood what it means to be Porto is different, because this is the Club in our hearts and the Club we love.” Tiago Silva, another midfielder with blue-and-white DNA, admitted that this “was a moment I had dreamed of since childhood.”

Pepê“It is very good to be Champions again, we went far too long without winning the title and it is a huge joy. This group fully deserves it, there was always great unity and we ended a difficult season in the best way. We are very happy to be Champions again. Now we are going to Aliados and the boat parade is something new for me, but I know it will be a great celebration and that we and the fans will love it. Last season was difficult, but the fans were always with us and that was very important for us to go into this season with a different spirit so we could repay all their affection. There were several situations that gave us motivation and strength, such as what happened with Jorge [Costa]. It gave us even more motivation to dedicate this title to him, because he always believed in us and always trusted our work. He said that FC Porto had become a team again and we wanted to show that on the pitch. Many doubted our ability, so it was important to show that we deserve this title.”

Bernardo Lima“I have been here since I was seven years old. Any academy player dreams of playing for the first team and becoming champion for the Club. I also had the opportunity to be Under-19 champion. The vote of confidence the Club gave us is down to our work and all of this is very important. The feeling of someone who comes through the academy and has felt since childhood what it means to be Porto is different, because this is the Club in our hearts and the Club we love. We have a passion for this Club and being able to become Champions is an enormous source of pride. I want to thank all our teammates, because they also deserved it and helped us get here, as did the coaches, physiotherapists and team managers. This is not just ours. I want to congratulate everyone who helped us get here. Not everyone can reach the first team, but we are representing our teammates. The commitment is being made and just as we are here, our teammates will get there too. It still hasn’t sunk in, I have already won several titles, including with the national team. I am very grateful for everything I achieved with the national team and I am aware that if it were not for that I might not be here, but this is the Club in my heart, the Club I love most, and it is a special feeling. Any young player has the ambition of becoming National Champion for the Club. Keep believing. I always believed, worked, stayed focused and humble. I do not want to stop, I want to work and improve so I can have more opportunities and win more titles for the Club.”

Tiago Silva“This was a moment I had dreamed of since childhood and I am happy to make it come true. I have been here for 12 years now and I worked very hard for this day to come. It is a unique moment. I still haven’t cried, but I am sure it will happen. I have no words to describe this moment. I am very grateful for the confidence they placed in me. There are many other players who also deserved this opportunity, but I am very happy this happened. I am very happy that the first title of my career is with the Club in my heart and the only Club I have represented in my life. The work always goes on with great humility. Every day is very important. We do not know how things will turn out, we have to enjoy the moment. This city deserves it and I hope the fans enjoy it too, because without them none of this would have been possible.”

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