McCarthy on victory mission

By Jim Wirth & David Bano

If FC Porto are to win the UEFA Champions League for the second season in succession, they are going to have to do it the hard way.

Footballing miracle
While their progress to a 3-0 victory against AS Monaco FC in the final last season was heralded as a footballing miracle, there has been precious little magic around the team this season: a 2-0 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain FC on Matchday 3 has left them at the bottom of Group H.

One point
Porto have registered just one point, in the goalless draw at home against PFC CSKA Moskva, and one goal - in their 3-1 defeat at Chelsea FC. However, the scorer of that goal, South African international Benni McCarthy, has not yet given up hope of a place in the last 16. "Of course we believe," the 26-year-old, who scored four goals in Porto's run to the final last season, told uefa.com. "If we didn't, we might as well just give up playing football."

Coaching roundabout
Some Porto players may have been tempted to do that this summer. The departure of coach José Mourinho for Chelsea heralded the exit of many of their best players, while his replacement, Luigi Del Neri, lasted barely a few weeks before being dismissed and replaced with Víctor Fernández.

Missed opportnity
Hardly surprisingly, in the midst of all of this upheaval, Porto's results have suffered. And while they remain unbeaten in domestic football, European performances have not been up to standard. The defeat by a PSG side who had failed to earn a point in their previous two Champions League games and were seemingly coming apart at the seams after a rotten start to their domestic season was seen by some as a missed opportunity.

PSG force
McCarthy, however, was not fooled by the statistics. "We were up against a very good team, a very organised team," he said. "They had been unlucky in the past. They made it very difficult for us and they managed to score two goals in two minutes. If you concede like that it is always going to be difficult."

Return trip
However, Porto have the chance to atone for that defeat and steal their way back up the Group H table as Vahid Halilhodzic's side make the trip to the Estádio do Dragão. Three points would lift them off the bottom of the group, and as McCarthy said: "There are three matches left and you never know. We have one point, PSG have three and CSKA Moscow have four so it's very close."

'Must-win game'
Nonetheless, if Porto are to harbour hopes of joining Chelsea in the last 16, McCarthy was only too aware that they have to overcome PSG at home. "Most definitely," he said. "We are playing at home so it is a must-win game. The guys know what's expected of them. We just have to play with our hearts and give it our best shot."

Top scorer
The former AFC Ajax and RC Celta de Vigo forward scored 20 goals in 23 games last season as Porto scooped the Portuguese title for a second season in succession. If the club are to continue their admirable record of winning the SuperLiga and a European trophy for a third season, they will need McCarthy's goals.

Fortunes changed
However, more than anything, they will need some good luck. As McCarthy said: "The Champions League is like this - one year you have a good year and then the next year everything doesn't turn out the way you want it to."