In a fiery rebuttal to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s claims, Porto head coach Sergio Conceicao has attributed his team’s 1-0 victory over the Gunners in the Champions League Round of 16 to a simple desire to win.
Conceicao’s remarks come in response to Arteta’s suggestion that Porto had no intention of playing during Wednesday night’s clash, Footballrover reports.
The Portuguese side’s resolute defence and strategic gameplay stifled Arsenal’s attack, leaving them without a single shot on target throughout the match.
House of Dragons ????#FCPAFC #UCL pic.twitter.com/Q85hRkQDCk
— FC Porto (@FCPorto) February 22, 2024
Conceicao, speaking at the post-match interview, dismissed Arteta’s assessment as mere opinion, asserting that while the Gunners were after ball possession, his team aimed for victory.
Drawing a contrast with Arteta’s possession-oriented tactics, Conceicao emphasised that success on the field is not solely determined by ball dominance.
Citing the renowned Pep Guardiola’s coaching philosophy, Conceicao highlighted that different teams have distinct strategies tailored to their strengths and objectives.
“They think that the best way to beat their opponents is to have more possession of the ball, but that depends on the team and the performers they have,” he said.
The Porto coach claimed that having 40%–60% of the ball was not unreasonable, indicating a willingness to secure victory regardless of possession statistics.
He further expressed his readiness to achieve success even with as little as 30% possession.
A foto da pessoa que te fez mais feliz esta noite ????#FCPAFC #UCL pic.twitter.com/kXleqy1BOd
— FC Porto (@FCPorto) February 21, 2024
Looking ahead, Porto will have to prepare to defend their narrow lead as they visit the Emirates Stadium for the return leg on March 12.
Meanwhile, the Gunners will have to face a crucial stretch of three Premier League fixtures as they strive to maintain their contention in the title race against Manchester City and Liverpool.
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