Tiago Margarido complains about the VAR and shoots: “Pate would be the fairest”

The Victoria SC deserved to go out with points, what did he produce? “First, say it was a great football game, with two teams unique and exclusively looking for victory. Hence it was an open game, with emotion and occasions on both sides. Yes, I think this defeat is unfair to Victoria, because in the first part we were bold and ambitious, with a very high line, trying to pressure FC Porto in the first phase of construction, where they are well known as a very competent team. In the second part, we further increased this pressure, created immense difficulties in the circulation of FC Porto, had Sidi's ball in the bar and Gustavo isolated, but could not overcome Diogo. FC Porto also had an important approach, but the truth is that the game was very balanced and I think the draw would be the fairest result.”

The strategy was to put the FC Port several times out of play? “ Yeah, it was part of the plan, like I said in preparation. We had several ways to defend during the game, to create misfits to the construction of FC Porto, as well as to our offensive pattern, and the truth is that the opponent felt difficulties. It is a very competent team, it must also be said, but I think that in the sum of 90 minutes, the draw would be the fairest result.”

What adjustments were made for the second part? “ We've been trying to move Tony Strata's position to more inner areas. We had Camará in the hallway because he was creating doubts about Zaidu's position. We also tried to build a three, with Beni embedded among the plants, to disrupt what was the position of FC Porto, which was very much looking for man-to-man situations. We succeeded because we felt the team had simple solutions to circulate the ball, and we created the three opportunities I spoke of. Like I said, it was a good football game. Unfortunately, we cannot score.”

Were you upset about the assistant referee? Did you want the out-of-games to be marked faster? “No. I wanted the Froholdt thing with Gonçalo, where Froholdt doesn’t even look at the ball and tackle Gonçalo, to be analyzed by the VAR.”

Regarding Borevkovic, is everything okay? “ Yeah, I think he got hit in the head there and now he's going to the hospital for tests. But for now, it seems to me to be stable.”

Despite defeat and all this context, do you get positive notes from this game? “ We managed to create difficulties for FC Porto and share the game. FC Porto had its opportunities, we had ours, but unfortunately the result did not hang to our side, also fruit of the quality of the opposing players. We have to get positive things out of here, because we have managed to level the game against the national champion.”