Porto progress pleases Pereira
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
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Vítor Pereira was full of praise for his FC Porto team after they qualified for the last 16 with a goalless draw against FC Dynamo Kyiv, who are on the brink of elimination from Group A.
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Olexiy Mykhaylychenko, stand-in Dynamo coach
We needed a win and we played to get it tonight. Not everything worked but the team fought, was eager and did their best to get the victory. It is difficult to reproach the players for their commitment, but we made our share of mistakes. In such matches finishing is very important because you don't get many chances normally. We didn't take ours tonight.
Though we only have a [slim] mathematical chance of qualifying, we will prepare very seriously for the remaining games. The points we get and the position we finish in is very important for the team's development. Both Porto games were difficult. We had different goals in those matches. We weren't playing for a draw in Porto, but would have been happy with a point. Tonight we needed to win and we didn't get it, so we aren't happy.
Vítor Pereira, Porto coach
We wanted to win this game, in what is a very difficult stadium. We played well, we stayed united as a team, created some chances but did not score. With their supporters behind them they are dangerous at home, but it ended up as a fair result.
It is not like every team achieves qualification by matchday four. It is very good. I must congratulate Helton and Lucho González because they played with injuries, but I must also praise the whole team, because they had personality and played with consistency. Now we will think about winning the next game.