João Brandão on Chaves: “It’s a challenge, but we want to respond well” | OneFootball

FC Porto B hosts Chaves at 6pm this Monday, in a match for the 28th round of the league. João Brandão wants a response after three straight games without a win in Liga Meu Super, although he believes this could be one of Chaves’ last chances to “get back into the promotion race”.

“That was their main objective for this season. Chaves is a team full of capable and experienced players, and they have Roberto, one of the all-time top scorers in the Segunda Liga. It is a huge challenge for us, but we want to give a strong response after this international break. We want to start this run until the end of the season in the best possible way,” said the coach of the Dragons.

Will the win in the first half of the season have any influence? “Every game is a different story, and a different story will be written. We very much want to get the three points, but we also have to focus on the path to victory and not only on the final goal.”

What aspects need improving? “In the last few games, attacking efficiency is something we have not been as good at. What we created and produced did not turn into goals. That is one of the areas we need to improve.”

Several players away on international duty: “First of all, it is a tremendous source of pride to see how our players performed for the different national teams. There were 18 players in total, nine from the B team. Our captain [Gabriel Brás] also represented the national team as captain, and that shows the growth of all of them, but especially of him. It was a tremendous opportunity for our players to experience the level of demand of the first team and feel firsthand the level they need to reach in order to establish themselves. Only then will they be able to make their great dream come true, which is to play for FC Porto’s first team. There is also the less positive side, which was the absence of the players, in addition to some others who are limited, but whoever plays will do so with tremendous desire and tremendous pride in representing FC Porto. The path we have followed this season deserves to be translated into wins and points in this new cycle.”

Gabriel Brás proud to wear the armband

Back from an international break in which he represented Portugal’s Under-21s, Gabriel Brás reflected on the similar competitive context between the two groups. “It is part of my growth and my work. I am very happy to represent my country, and what I do for the national team is what I do at FC Porto. I do not change my way of being or playing. That is what drives me,” stressed the 22-year-old centre-back, aware of the “responsibility” that comes with being one of the most important members of the Porto squad: “Even if I were not one of the captains, if there is one thing everyone must have within themselves, it is responsibility. Of course, being captain gives me extra responsibility, but I take it naturally and every day I try to help my teammates and my team.”

To conclude, Gabriel Brás also made an appeal for a good turnout at Olival for the home match against the side from Trás-os-Montes. “The fans are always important, and even more so at our Club. We feel their presence strongly, and in every game when they support us, they are an extra strength for us,” he said.

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