Following the weekend’s league fixture, the Portuguese media is now focused on the upcoming European clashes, as there’s a big Champions League match between Porto and Chelsea coming up.
It turns out that when analysing the Blues, local newspapers obviously realised that Thomas Tuchel’s side have just been beaten 5-2 by West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League.
And since one of the Baggies’ players who stood out in the game was former Sporting winger Matheus Pereira, newspapers O Jogo and Record both had the same idea of interviewing the player and asking him some tips on how to beat Chelsea.
So let’s start with O Jogo, who feature the West Brom star on their front page, to whom the player talked about the Blues’ weaknesses.
“[laughs] I’m not Sergio Conceição, but I think FC Porto know what they’ll have to do, even because our systems are different. We used three centres-backs and a compact midfield with Chelsea, because they have a great team. But FC Porto have been doing very well in the Champions League and will want to make history. So, I believe that Sergio will know how to find the right solutions, just as he did against Juventus,” Matheus Pereira told O Jogo.
“There are some weaknesses, like all teams. Our strategy was to be compact and attack the space they give in depth. It seems to me that this may be a key point in the game. Do not say that the Porto must play in counterattack, because we also played in positional attack at various times and we had opportunities. But Chelsea also have a very strong positional attack. So it will be the game that dictates what FC Porto can and cannot do.”
Asked if Porto centre-forward Moussa Marega will be a key player in the match, Pereira highlighted the importance of midfielders as well.
“Yes, I really believe that Marega will be able to take advantage of this space that Chelsea gives in depth. But I think that both Corona, Otávio and even Sérgio Oliveira can also explore the many spaces that they grant in the middle.”
Then speaking to Record, Pereira talked about how important Thiago Silva’s red card was for West Brom to win the match. He also said Chelsea shouldn’t be big favourites against Porto.
“It’s a team that has many options, several world-class players for all positions. We looked at that squad and found no weaknesses. But all the teams have weaknesses and that’s what we were looking for throughout the week. Then it depends a lot on what the game gives us. We knew how to adapt, we managed to explore the depth, some empty spaces that appeared in central areas, the long balls… The sending off helped, of course, they didn’t know how to rebuild and we took advantage of the moment.
“We know Chelsea’s size, but FC Porto are also a club that is used to winning. I don’t see Chelsea that much as favourites. They have different arguments, but that doesn’t always mean anything. FC Porto have a say, without a doubt.”
