This matters just as much to us, insists Porto coach
THEY are Champions League regulars out to prove a point in the Europa League. So the idea that Porto are under pressure to perform isn’t entirely without merit — no matter what head coach Sergio Conceicao says.
The former Portugal winger last night accused Rangers counterpart Steven Gerrard of pulling ‘a bit of a bluff’ in his attempt to shift the focus on to the visitors ahead of tonight’s Group G clash at Ibrox.
As he argued that his team have the top-level experience to cope with anything their hosts throw at them, however, he rather underlined the point.
Runners-up in the Portuguese league, Porto were also Champions League quarterfinalists last season, losing out to eventual winners Liverpool.
This has to feel like slumming it for a side used to the finer things in football. And that might just have an effect.
‘I don’t know if that is a bit of a bluff from Rangers,’ said Conceicao. ‘Whether we are favourites or not, we’ll see how we perform.
‘The opinion of Steven Gerrard is his opinion. Managers all have their own opinions.
‘Historically, we are used to the Champions League and Europa League more than Rangers. Porto is very honoured to be in this competition.
‘Yes, we have played in the Champions League before — in fact, we won it once.
‘The fact that we only had 30,000 at the last game (a 1-1 draw with Rangers) was to do with timing, the early kick-off.
‘I know Porto fans are as strong and as vocal as Rangers fans.
‘I assure you this matters as much to Porto fans as it does to Rangers supporters.
‘As a team, we know these games aren’t easy. It’s never easy. Rangers are a very competitive team.
‘They will draw on the aggression and competitiveness needed to succeed at this level.’
The teams fought out a 1-1 draw in Portugal but it was an impressive display by Rangers, who certainly could have won the game. Gerrard is adamant Porto also played to their maximum level that night, but Conceicao believes there is more to come from his side.
‘We have improved on some key things in the past couple of weeks,’ he continued.
‘But we have a strong team, a strong mentality. We need to be strong because it’s always difficult away from home, in front of fans who are so passionate.
‘We need to make a difference from the first game to take three points instead of one.
‘The home fans make a big difference, we know that, because our own fans make a difference.
‘Are we still the favourites? Well, historically, we are maybe more at home in European competition. But we have to prove that tomorrow.’
Locked together on four points, both sides know that a win could go a long way towards securing progression to the knockout stage.
‘All games are important but, as the competition progresses, games become harder — and maybe more important,’ is how Conceicao put it yesterday.
The Porto boss also dismissed suggestions that his team underestimated their Scottish rivals.
‘No, I wouldn’t say I was surprised by Rangers,’ he insisted. ‘We studied Rangers as we study all teams.
‘Rangers had some merit, they did some good things. Porto, on the other hand, had some deficiencies, some things we could have done better. Rangers played well but we really could have improved.
‘As a team, they have a lot of strong players. They are challenging as a whole.
‘The mentality of Ryan Kent was very positive, the width they got from James Tavernier and Borna Barisic was also important to them.
‘They are very strong offensively. A team who doesn’t adapt to Rangers will struggle against them.
‘So we expect the same kind of problems we faced in the first game. We just have to deal with them better.’
Mexican winger Jesus Corona has yet to find the net this season but he believes his drought will end at Ibrox, declaring: ‘I expect to score tomorrow to kick-start my season as a goalscorer.
‘The numbers say yes, we should be able to qualify.
‘But we are looking for the three points here because that will be important.’