Francisco Conceicao asserts that Porto’s success in eliminating Arsenal from the Champions League hinges upon their ability to score at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening. Holding a tenuous 1-0 aggregate advantage from Galeno’s late winner at the Estadio do Dragao last month, the visitors must now navigate a formidable Arsenal side that currently leads the Premier League standings.
Conceicao, son of Porto head coach Sergio Conceicao, implied that adopting a passive stance and aiming for a goalless draw to advance would be an inadequate approach for the visiting team in the crucial second leg encounter.
“We can only progress through the tie by scoring in this second leg,” he stated on the eve of the match. “Arsenal possesses a formidable team. Our objective is to secure victory because we are a formidable team ourselves and have the ambition to emerge triumphant.
“Arsenal is a team pursuing significant objectives, but our focus lies primarily on our own team and the necessary efforts to secure victory here. We must demonstrate the qualities of a formidable FC Porto, as exhibited in the first leg, to secure a berth in the quarter-finals. We are well-prepared and possess the requisite attitude to advance.”
Following the initial leg, Sergio Conceicao remarked that Arsenal “sought to play” while Porto “sought victory.” Despite Arsenal failing to register a shot on target in Portugal, their performance domestically has been impressive.
Francisco Conceicao has endorsed his father, describing him as one of the premier managers in the sport, and views Tuesday’s confrontation as an opportunity for him to validate this assertion. “Sergio Conceicao is among the elite coaches globally, a fact he has long proven, and time will vindicate my assertion,” Francisco emphasized.
“We recognize the necessity for steadfastness and fortitude as we engage in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16. Only by replicating the attitude and aggression demonstrated in the first leg can we achieve a favorable outcome.
“I am profoundly gratified, a sentiment reflected on the field, particularly given our participation in the Champions League round of 16. We aspire to secure victory in tomorrow’s match to prolong this period of jubilation.”