Coach Conceicao
Porto coach Sergio Conceiçao believes his team has what it takes to defy expectations and progress further in the UEFA Champions League.
Porto have won their last four games in the competition, while Inter have won their last two at home, including a 1-0 victory over FC Barcelona in the group stages.
In his pre-match press conference ahead of the game, the Portuguese reflected on what lies ahead.
“You don’t win in the Champions League without quality. Then there’s the distance that arises between teams from the big leagues and the others.
“However, that doesn’t mean that we don’t have the chance to play in the final, which is also the goal if it’s difficult.
“We played excellent group stages and we always gave excellent signals,” he said (via FCInterNews).
Conceiçao urged his side to believe that the Nerazzurri could be overcome in the last 16.
“I remember the match against Chelsea, who then became European champions: we didn’t deserve to lose, just like on other occasions.
“I think we have chances to beat Inter. We can and must dream. It’s a part of life.”
All previous European meetings between Inter and Porto came in 2005 when the Italians first went unbeaten in the 2004/05 campaign’s last 16 before both teams won a game each in the 2005/06 group stages.