FC Porto is no longer competing for the title
Carlos Pereira Fernandez | 2 hours ago
I once said I’ve seen coaches leave in the pre-season. I have seen less successful pre-seasons, where the coach was already in the spotlight. If a pre-season match is important for a team like FC Porto, imagine the championship match. We don’t look at the table, we look at the match, but we can’t forget that we have two opponents and this could cost us a higher or lower position in the table. It’s not where we work, but we realize it.
What would you say to Andre Villas-Boas?
Carlos Pereira Fernandez | 2 hours ago
I don’t know what they will ask me? Only after we realized what conversation we were going to have… It seemed that we were talking about something abnormal, for the president to sit with an employee, who is the coach, who is an important person in the clubs. Being a first team coach, the more important it is. I don’t see anything strange about this, it seems normal and natural to me.
Change direction
Carlos Pereira Fernandez | 2 hours ago
I have to look at the football team and understand that we are limited by injuries and penalties. I’m not the type to rush, because the kid has the quality, make him play in a way that goes beyond the necessary steps. I give the example of Martim, who played against Sporting, when we thought he was ready, because there was another player who, for me, strategically, Pepe, was essential to play more in attack. These changes are what I see, meaning what the team needs. Looking at the beginning of the season, regarding the match with Sporting… not even Wendel, who was playing more with Zidou at that time. I’ve already made all these changes that are part of my job and that worry me a lot. After that, the collective life of the club became the same. The partners are sovereign, they are the ones who decide. We are here as employees, to do our best, and as I said, to be at FC Porto, a contract is not enough. Here no one clings to anything. There is an institution above everything and everyone.
Iván Jaime objects to the takedown
Carlos Pereira Fernandez | 2 hours ago
The technical team usually decides what to do depending on the athletes’ production. Two, three, four different groups can work. We have a great professional team. Advertisements and everything that has nothing to do with me. I’m a football coach, I’m doing my job. And that is what I can respond to. I heard there was a statement. I’ve seen it, but haven’t read it. The most important thing is tomorrow’s match and the players available, under the conditions I want, which is to work with their utmost, their utmost ambition, to reach the match and make this commitment, which helps us win.
A conversation with André Villas-Boas
Carlos Pereira Fernandez | 2 hours ago
This reminds me of what I mentioned in the story, the Treaty of Zamora, in 1143, between Dr. Afonso Henriques and his cousin. It’s the normal conversation between the boss and the coach. All these questions that the new president wants to talk to me about, I will answer. Of course, he will not only want to talk to me, but he will want to know more about things, and he will talk to many of the club’s employees. It’s completely normal.
Hug between Pinto da Costa and Andre Villas-Boas
Carlos Pereira Fernandez | 2 hours ago
I don’t have to put any translations. There is a president who lost the election and another who won. For now, we still have our president. The certificate will be passed. As a coach, I have to prepare the team, focus on the match, and live away from the noise that exists at this time for our club. And that. There is nothing more than that. I always like to see two people hugging each other, it’s a good sign.
Differences against Chavez in the first round
Carlos Pereira Fernandez | 2 hours ago
Chavez has a crucial game, just like us. It is true that things have changed a little, and it has changed throughout the season, since the moment Moreno took over as coach of the team. The entry of one player or another in January made the team play differently. We looked at some scenarios. Jozo is not suspended, Guima is back from injury, Pires too, he can present himself with a back line of five or four… We have to prepare for these different scenarios to be good in the game and understand what the opponent can do according to his plans. These players, who, when they played here, in Dragao, were not the same.
Changes in defense
Carlos Pereira Fernandez | 2 hours ago
These are problems I get to solve, and I get paid for it. Obviously I would like to rely on everyone. Unfortunately, this is not possible, and I have to find solutions. Members, fans and supporters want FC Porto to win, and will not look at absences. They look at other positions, depending on how the game goes. We must focus on finding solutions to form a competitive team, in a match that will have all this context. It’s a tough match, but we’re ready to win.
What game are you waiting for?
Carlos Pereira Fernandez | 2 hours ago
It is a motivational factor for the players to face a great player in Portuguese football. During this match, they will still have hope of staying in the first league. We have to look at our game. There was time to prepare for the match, and we will face it in the best way possible to win.
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