Victor Froholdt: “I’m very proud of what we did for the fans and city” | OneFootball

Victor Froholdt, 20, says he feels “very happy and proud to have won the championship with FC Porto” in his very first season away from his home country. In comments to the newspaper A Bola, the Danish midfielder stresses that “the unity among everyone at the club, especially between the players and the coaching staff” was crucial to achieving the goal and to “building a very strong team to compete every week and in every competition.”

“This season we showed that things can change very quickly. I believe the goal now is to do the same next season, because everyone will look at us as champions and everyone will want to beat us,” says the midfielder, “focused on winning games with FC Porto, developing as a player and helping the team as much as possible,” “someone who always wants to fight for everything” and who is not satisfied with little: “We will come back with an even greater desire, an even stronger spirit, and people can be excited about the team that will return after the summer break.”

Over the course of a long conversation, Victor Froholdt talks about the importance of Francesco Farioli, who “managed to create an atmosphere around the club that makes everyone give 100% in everything,” also speaks about Jorge Costa and his teammates, and describes himself as “a box-to-box midfielder who loves to run, defend for his teammates and for the team” and to “always do more, be better and improve in other aspects.”

When asked about the transfer market, Porto’s number 8 is clear: “What I want is to stay here. That’s the plan. I love being here, I would love to play in the Champions League with this badge. I’m very happy here and I would love to play here next season. I’m sure I’ll be at the Dragão next season.”

Being Champion in his debut season“It means a lot. When I came here, I knew what the ambition was: to fight for the title and be at the top of the race at the end. Looking back on the season, I’m very proud and happy with everything we did, especially for the fans and the city. We gave everything we had in training and in matches throughout the season. We played at a high level all season long; it wasn’t just in a few moments. We managed to keep a steady level and improve week after week. So I’m very, very happy and proud to have already won this championship with FC Porto.”

The title celebrations“Actually, going back a bit, when I arrived here I heard people say that the fans, the Porto supporters, were crazy about football, the city and the club. But when I got here I understood what it was like to play at the Dragão and, seeing all the supporters we have, I was really surprised by the energy. I feel that every day when I walk around the city. Everyone in Porto breathes football. So I’m very happy to be able to give them this championship. After the match against Alverca, the celebration was very good. I’ll remember it forever as the moment when we all celebrated the title together.

Ingredients of success“I think there are many aspects to consider. If I had to highlight some of the most important ones, during the periods when we won a lot, we always managed to find a way to work even harder. Over the course of a season, a team’s and a player’s performance has ups and downs, but when we dropped our rhythm a little and, in a way, went onto autopilot, we found a way to work even harder and be even better. Then, of course, in the decisive moments, in the big games, we were where we wanted to be. We won the match in Braga and we also beat Sporting away, in just the fifth game. So I think there were many aspects, but overall I have to talk about the unity we created among everyone at the club, but especially between the players and the coaching staff, as well as the fact that we worked together and gave everything on every occasion.”

The wins in Braga and Alvalade“On paper, maybe you could say they were the most important, but what makes me proudest is all the games we played for the club. We also managed to win those games. It isn’t easy to play away against Estoril or Famalicão, just as it isn’t easy to play them at the Dragão. The league is competitive and we managed to build a very strong team to compete every week and in every competition. I’m very happy that we managed to keep the level high.”

The previous years“Yes, I knew FC Porto and the city had gone a few years without winning the title, but I also think this season is proof that you can’t change the past, but you can look to the future and, if you give everything for that future, you can change a lot. This season, we showed that things can change very quickly. I believe the goal now is to do the same next season, because everyone will look at us as champions and everyone will want to beat us. I don’t think it’s necessary to look too much at the past, but I was aware of FC Porto’s recent years, although I think that now the club is in a very good position, also because of what we have been doing.”

Farioli at Ajax“I didn’t feel the team was nervous or anxious about the possibility of losing the title, because I believe that if you start thinking about what you could lose or fail to achieve, your performance starts to drop… I think the group, the club, the coach and the unity we created among ourselves had only one focus: to win and move in that direction, without worrying about anything else. I don’t think we thought about what happened last season with Ajax. In the title-clinching match, we had the right mentality.

The coach’s merit“I’m very happy that we have a coach of this level. The manager managed to create an atmosphere around the club that makes everyone give 100 percent in everything. He created a group that gives everything on the pitch and works together, and he has top-level tactical vision and ability. That makes everything easier for us players and helps us understand the direction we want to follow. The fact that he won this championship with us also makes me very happy, as does the coaching staff around him. We mustn’t forget them…”

The importance of Lucho and Castro“It’s not only on an individual level. They’ve done a very good job in terms of collective development and they continue to do so, to keep the group united and working in the same direction. And as you mentioned, they were midfielders too and they have some important advice. They know what it takes to play for this club and for me to become a better player. And what surprises me most is that if I want to do some extra work on a day off, or something like that, they are always there to help me. They want to do everything for us midfielders, but also for me, so that we can become even better.”

Sporting as the main rival?“I wouldn’t say so… I think Benfica also had a very good season. They still have one more game, but they haven’t suffered any defeat in the league and that’s quite impressive. But we also have to feel honored and proud when we realize that Sporting had a very good season, went far in the Champions League, where they did very well, and managed to stay right on our heels in the title race. They are two teams that also did very well and made it a close contest until the end. But the most important thing was that we managed to produce that final push to bring this title home.”

Varandas’s words“Speaking for myself, I’ll be honest: I didn’t even know he had said those words. I don’t focus much on what happens in the media, or on what other presidents say, whether it’s Sporting’s or Benfica’s. What I can say is that I’m happy we proved that we weren’t anxious or afraid of losing the title. But I still have a lot of respect for that team [Sporting] and the rivalry we had was positive. In the matches we played, I felt that there were always big things happening. It’s more than football. Sometimes you say something that, in the moment, maybe you don’t want to say. But I’m happy that we managed to prove otherwise.

Gabri Veiga’s response“I think it was quite a funny moment from Gabri. He’s one of those players who loves it when these things happen. And I like it too. In football, sometimes it’s a bit harsh with the opponent, especially when there’s a rivalry like the one we have against these clubs [Sporting and Benfica]. It was a good moment for us to be able to respond.”

Did Hjulmand congratulate you?“No, no… We have a good relationship, even though we play for two different clubs and have the rivalry we have… But I also think I wouldn’t message him if they won the Portuguese Cup or if they had beaten us. I think we both agree that we’re not friends when we face each other, but we are close when we’re together in the national team. He’s a very nice person and a good man.”

The death of Jorge Costa“It was a tragic day. I think we all remember that day with great sadness in our minds and hearts. We never want to lose anyone here, especially a figure of that level, with so much history at FC Porto. It was a very difficult day for all of us. And if there’s one thing that can make us proud, it’s that we were able to create a unique unity. Everyone became more united after this tragic event. With that in mind, it was good for all of us to always keep Jorge Costa present in our minds. We carried his number into every game, we celebrated and remembered him at the end of the match that gave us the title. It was a moment we truly felt deep inside, in our hearts.”

A title dedicated to him“It’s something you can’t control, but I think everyone at the club said something after that happened: ‘Now, we’re going to win for Jorge.’ Having that in our minds at all times, and the awareness that we would do everything for him and for his family, was something that stayed with us in every game we played.

The most difficult moments“One of the hardest moments was that period between January and February. We had some changes in the team, we lost away to Casa Pia, we played a lot of games… I look back and feel proud to see that we managed to move forward after that phase. After the defeat to Casa Pia, we stayed united and kept moving in the right direction to win the championship. In every season there are ups and downs, but the most important thing is to know that you only control one thing: giving everything you can here [in training], in our stadium and in away games. And I feel we did that even in the most difficult moments, because there were many that we overcame.”

The injuries to Nehuén Pérez, Luuk de Jong and Samu“Over the course of a season, every team faces injuries, including to some key players and in key positions. I don’t feel we suffered many small injuries, but we did have some serious ones that kept players out for a long time. But those injuries give opportunities to other players, who can step up. I’m very proud that we managed to do that. Nehuén, Samu and Luuk got injured, but we had Deniz [Gul] and Terem [Moffi], who did a very good job. So I’m happy that we managed to keep the level despite some difficult injuries. And we also had a meeting recently where it was said that we managed to have a player availability rate close to 90% throughout this season. That was something we managed very well.”

Still on the match in Braga“As I said before, what makes me proudest is the overall title, because we’re talking about everything we did in every game. But yes, the game in Braga in particular was a great win. We were losing because of a penalty, but we managed to turn it around. And that match was also very important because we kept the lead and some points’ advantage over Sporting and Benfica in the title race. Winning that game was a statement from us, and also because we managed to get the win after being behind. It was a very good game for all of us, one we remember as one of the key moments of the season.”

What was left undone?“We were pretty good in both competitions. We beat Benfica at home and moved on in the Cup. I don’t think anyone came and said that we had a target to reach in the Europa League, whether it was reaching the semi-finals or perhaps the final and trying to win every competition… In a season you have many games. We were knocked out by Nottingham Forest, a good team. Next season we have the ability and the opportunity to do better in Europe and also in the Cup. We don’t just want to win the league, we also want to win the Cup and go far in Europe. But I also feel that we can be proud of some of the things we did in the Europa League and the Portuguese Cup.”

Individual growth“That period between January and February was the hardest for me… I had played a lot of games, with a lot of minutes, and it wasn’t a matter of thinking I needed competition, but for me it was good that Seko [Fofana] arrived at the club. He’s a player with a lot of quality, who forced me to be even better. It was also important because he could take some minutes off me and give me rest, especially to clear my mind. It was good for me. At the end of the season, and over the last month, I got back to the level where I want to be and perform. I think it’s normal to have some periods like that, but I’m also happy that, individually, I got through that moment when I was dropping a little and managed to get back to the level I want to maintain. I’m also proud of my individual performances and the steps I took this season. When I look back, I think I also improved a lot as a human being, but also as a player, both on the pitch and within the squad.”

Thiago Silva“To begin with, it has to be said that it’s quite impressive that he still plays at this level. He’s a player who earned enormous respect because of the career he’s had, but he also has a lot of respect for the place where he is now. He’s a player capable of leading a group, perhaps not with as many words as Jan [Bednarek], but he has a clear way of doing things. He’s a good leader, he sets the right tone for what the team’s main guidelines should be. And he’s a player with a lot of experience; he has already won more than 30 titles. He can teach you something and he brings calm when he’s on the pitch.”

2026/27 like 2025/26?“I’m a person who always wants to fight for everything and I don’t sign off on anything before the season starts. Right now we have a very good foundation at the club and in the team, so next season we will give everything in every competition we take part in. Then we just have to be even better and take a step forward. Now the focus is on us, both in the league and in Europe. There is some pressure, but we will keep giving everything for the badge on our chest.”

The future“In football you can never promise anything, you can never predict the market… But what I want is to stay here. That’s the plan. I love being here, I would love to play in the Champions League with this badge. I’m very happy here and I would love to play here next season. I’m sure I’ll be at the Dragão next season.”

Focus on FC Porto“Like I said, football is one of those sports where you can never be 100% sure, but in my mind, next season I’ll be at the Dragão.”

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