Sérgio Conceição: ″I still think we are the best team″

In the aftermath of the triumph against Vitória de Guimarães, the FC Porto coach, Sérgio Conceição, stressed that, despite the title won by Benfica, the blue and white team continues to be the best in the league.

“Before talking about the game, I would like to say a word to the FC Porto institution, which inspires everyone to do their best throughout the year. Second, to the supporters. Who sustain the club’s soul. And third, a word to the players , staff and different departments that work with us and that collaborate 200 percent so that FC Porto continues to be a club and institution that, year after year, strongly marks what is its brand in the different national titles and also in the Europe”, began by saying Sérgio Conceição, highlighting that the blue and white team was “a family on the pitch”.

“It wasn’t easy, we didn’t depend on us and regardless of what might happen in the game of the opponent who was ahead. We had to do our part, to demonstrate character, personality and realize that in these difficult moments, those who have been in these situations know what I am to say, we have to be a dedicated, ambitious team. Regardless of the expulsion. It makes me proud as a coach. There is little to say. Vitória de Guimarães tried to organize themselves with a young team, which will be in the qualifying rounds of the Conference League, but the game had no history. In the big moments, or in moments where the team needs to give a good answer, it did. We lacked this consistency at the beginning and we needed to always go after the loss, that cost a lot. He said that we were going to fight. This is lived with so much intensity. I still think that we are the best team and that we were in the second round, in the end the one who was more regular and has more points won”, he added.

Asked whether Benfica was a fair national champion, Sérgio Conceição pointed out some factors during the season that harmed the blue and whites, namely the refereeing.

“This is justice… We have to see many situations that have occurred during this year, I think this is not the time for that. Without taking the merit of Benfica and its coach, as well as all the people who are part of the club, I think that in important moments for us, there were some demerits on our part but also situations that hurt us a lot throughout the season, refereeing and some injuries we had. It was never an excuse for me. I trust everyone who works fantastically. The accounts they are what they are. There is great frustration in the entire locker room because I still think we were the strongest team. But that alone is not enough”, he concluded.

FC Porto won (3-0), this Saturday, at Estádio do Dragão, Vitória de Guimarães in a game counting for the last round. Taremi, Otávio and Evanilson scored the goals of the match. With this result, the blue and whites finish the League in second place, with 85 points, two points less than Benfica, who became national champions.