José Alberto Costa: “Players’ attitude must match the club’s proud history” | OneFootball

José Alberto Costa was a prominent figure in the first European knockout round of the "new life of the Club" in 1982, when Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa took office as president of FC Porto. A two-legged clash with Utrecht – whose matches were not played in the usual stadiums due to UEFA bans – which, 43 years later, remains the only encounter between the two teams and will be repeated this Thursday at Stadion Galgenwaard in the Netherlands (17:45, Sport TV 5).

Looking back to a time when the Dragons had already "been national champions, but internationally they were not what they are today," the left winger recalls a "relatively easy knockout" against an opponent that "had the same strengths as they do today." He also paints a picture of the Dutch player as "a dry, lanky, fast individual who runs and gives himself to the game." He refers to Pedroto as "an individual who was way ahead of his time" and describes Gomes as "very special" and a natural finisher.

In statements initially shared in the Travel Guide given to partners who traveled on the Porto delegation's plane to the Netherlands, José Alberto Costa emphasizes that "FC Porto is the favorite, but it's a favoritism that cannot result in arrogance and must instead provoke a sense of responsibility." He states that "the attitude must be compatible with the Club's history and the characteristics associated with the jersey" and concludes: "We have good conditions, there aren't many teams with the size of FC Porto, which brings greater responsibility, although assuming this responsibility cannot hinder the players' performance. On the contrary, it serves to boost the team's and players' performance. I have great faith in this team, the coach, and the Management."

In 1982, you participated in the first knockout round with a Dutch team, Utrecht. Due to the ban on both stadiums, you played in Groningen and at Estádio da Luz. What do you remember about those games?Before answering, it's important to provide context. We're talking about the 1982/83 season: Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa took over the presidency at the beginning of 1982. The last months of the 1981/82 season were spent with Herman Stessl as the head coach, during a period when Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa and José Maria Pedroto had left the Club due to disagreements with Américo de Sá's management. Those two years were used by Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa to prepare his return, not as the football director – a position he held when I was signed from Coimbra, at José Maria Pedroto's request – but as president, with Pedroto as coach. All this resulted from the demands made two years earlier, aiming for a more ambitious, better organized, more professional FC Porto with international projection. At the time of the return, we were already national champions, but internationally FC Porto did not yet have the stature it presents today.

In that context, you then traveled to the Netherlands.We started the European campaign in the UEFA Cup against Utrecht, which "had the same strengths as they do today." At that moment, we were superior, although today FC Porto is clearly much stronger. The club's status was not what it is now; we were just taking the first steps. The knockout round ended up being relatively smooth, but those rounds only seem easy after achieving the result, not before. The characteristics of Dutch football were similar to the current ones: dry, lanky, and fast players, committed to the game. In terms of organization and tactical flexibility, we already stood out and were better. They played with aggression and were difficult to beat. We won 1-0 away and 2-0 in the second match, both played on neutral grounds due to stadium bans.

What was it like to play abroad at that time?It required more effort, not only due to adapting to the opponent but also because of the travels, which often involved layovers and increased fatigue. The pitches and facilities were of lower quality than today, a result of the standards that were later imposed by UEFA and FIFA.

Did Pedroto give you any special message before away games, especially those abroad?Mainly in National Championship games. I remember a time when the President of the Federation had to be from Benfica, Sporting, or Belenenses, by rule, and that influenced the balance of power. After April 25, the situation improved. Before that change, some away games created a hostile environment against us. Pedroto taught us to turn that aggression into a source of motivation and concentration – a way of acting that became ingrained in various generations of FC Porto and served as a catalyst for great achievements. In international games, there was less animosity, except when facing clubs with great size and support. Over time and with victories that brought fans and members around the team, that weight was lessened.

What did you think when you found out you were going to play in Lisbon as the visiting team?I like playing at Luz. I played there on several occasions, both with FC Porto and with Académica and the National Team. The choice of Luz also had practical reasons: the good relations between the boards – at the time it coincided with Fernando Martins' presidency, a friend of Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa – and a wide field with better turf than Utrecht's, which was smaller and tighter. For teams that prefer more positional football and ball exchange, a wide field with good grass favors their style. I remember that in my first year at FC Porto, I scored in the first home game against Benfica.

Were you immediately placed as a starter? Was it a peculiarity of Pedroto?It was something characteristic of Pedroto: when he chose, he got it right. I came from Coimbra; FC Porto had been champion after 19 years of drought, and Pedroto bet on me as a starter from the beginning. It was something that marked me. Regarding the games against Benfica, I responded well to pressure and difficulties – the more important the match, the more focused I became. I also remember the goal I scored at Luz in European competition, with my right foot, something I particularly valued.

In that game at Estádio da Luz, besides Costa, Fernando Gomes also scored. Was he special?He was, without a doubt, "very special." As a winger, when I dribbled and crossed, I always thought about where Gomes was. I knew that with the ball well directed, it was half a goal – whether with his head, right foot, or left foot – because he was a natural finisher. Despite not being very fast, he controlled the ball, gave depth to the attack, and ensured offensive continuity. His qualities earned him the Golden Boot twice.

What was it like working with the Master?Pedroto was years ahead of his time. He cared about the club's organization and the players' conditions: training camps, nutrition, recovery. He implemented improvements in facilities – sauna, massages, hydrotherapy – brought in a physical trainer and professor José Neto, who introduced the use of statistics, a topic little explored then. He sought to maximize individual performance and collectively demanded the maximum, but also gave an inner strength that we sometimes didn't know we possessed. In game reading, tactics, and match interpretation, he did things that seem commonplace today. At the time, there were only two substitutions; even positional changes without leaving the bench could significantly alter the team's dynamics, and he knew how to anticipate, solve, and adapt with mastery.

Who is the José Alberto Costa of this squad?I would say it's William Gomes. Also left-footed, although I played mainly on the left.

Which players do you like to watch the most?I really like Martim Fernandes and Francisco Moura – both very capable of breaking from the flank to the center. An aspect I liked in coach Farioli's system is the instruction to play inside, creating different problems for opponents. I also value Victor Froholdt for his physical size and space coverage ability. I have hope in Rodrigo Mora's affirmation: if well supported and advised, he can become a high-quality player. Of all, the most solid performance seems to be from Diogo Costa.

What advice would you like to leave to the squad?I see FC Porto as the favorite, but that favoritism should not lead to arrogance; instead, it must generate a sense of responsibility. Those who wear the FC Porto jersey must have attitudes compatible with its history and the demands the emblem imposes. It's not worth thinking that, because we are European Champions twice, we are automatically superior. Each game starts on equal footing; then it becomes easier or harder depending on the circumstances and how the match is approached from the start. This behavior should also be practiced in training: the more regularly they do it, the easier it will be to apply in competition.

How far do you think the team can go in this edition of the competition?From a prudent perspective, you can only think game by game. We have good conditions, and few teams have the size of FC Porto, which implies more responsibility, but this demand cannot hinder performance; on the contrary, it should boost it. I believe in the team, the coach, and the Management. It will be crucial, throughout the season, to prepare all players to produce performance and give them the conditions for that. For now, fatigue is not evident, but as the decisive phases of the season approach, everything will become more crucial.

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