“It was a cruel match for us”

FC Porto lost this Wednesday to Barcelona (1-0), at Estádio do Dragão, in matchday 2 of Group H of the Champions League. After the match, decided with a single goal from Ferrán Torres (45m+1), Sérgio Conceição pointed out that the blue and whites faced "something more than a big club". Still, "the players worked hard and played a fantastic game", the coach added. After this match, FC Porto has three points, same as Shakhtar Donetsk, both three behind Barcelona.

Match analysis
"We played a great game and the referees should also be happy with their performance. We are disappointed and frustrated as the players worked hard and played a fantastic game. It was a cruel game for us, as we created several opportunities to score. We played against a big club, but we faced something more than a big club. The strategy we set was fulfilled by the players, but, playing at this level, in the best club competition in the world, everyone needs to be concentrated and focused, as you cannot make certain mistakes. It was unfair to everyone who works and gives it all in the games. In short, I'm very proud of the way we played today."

The usual difficulties at the start of a season
"Each year we have to rebuild the team and the start of the season is never easy. It's part of the evolution of the players who then make the team stronger. Everyone could see that today we played an excellent game, within what was the strategy we set, to face a club with tremendous individual quality. We got zero points today and we have to look at that."

The future in the Champions League
"I can only promise we will work, with determination and ambition. We want to win the next game now. Last season, we started the Champions League with two defeats and this season we already have three points, but we have to aim at getting more points in the remaining games."

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