“Squad competition and Champions League demand different solutions” | OneFootball

Good physical and mental signs from the squad: “We worked well during pre-season. From day one, our goal was to reach this moment in the best possible shape. The players came back from the break in great condition, both mentally and physically, and we are exactly where we want to be. Now it’s about carrying that work into a great performance and trying to win this trophy.”

Without the surprise factor of a year ago, is the focus on preserving the team’s identity or looking for a new approach? “In modern football, surprises often last only 45 minutes. The way we play was highly valued in the past and will continue to be in the future. That doesn’t mean we can’t improve. There are things we have to repeat and do even better, and others we will have to change because the demands will be different. Internal competition and the Champions League will force us to come up with different solutions. We have to understand where we are and adapt, but there are principles that are non-negotiable: being intense, pressing every opponent and, with the ball, being very clear about what we want to do. After that, the job is to study and analyse each opponent so we can find the best solutions and achieve the results we want.”

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