Celoricense captain Diogo Alves expressed immense pride in his team’s performance against FC Porto, characterizing their Portuguese Cup defeat as a “dream come true” despite the 0-4 scoreline.
Alves stated his conscience was clear, acknowledging that his team “gave everything on the field.” For the amateur club, reaching the third round of the Portuguese Cup to face one of the nation’s football giants was a significant achievement.
“It was a prize more than deserved to have a third-round match against FC Porto,” Alves told a local broadcaster. He extended gratitude to the supporters, noting that “a sea of people” traveled from Celorico de Basto to a regional stadium in Barcelos for the game.
The captain reflected on the challenge, stating the team “knew the very difficult mission we would have.” He highlighted their strong first-half display.
“In the first half, we were very good and almost didn’t make mistakes,” Alves explained. “In open play, they didn’t have opportunities to suffocate us. We were very balanced.”
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However, the professional opposition’s intensity and fitness became apparent in the second half. “In the second half, it’s the legs, it’s their work, totally different. We did what we could,” he added.
Alves also viewed the high-profile match as a valuable “showcase” for Celoricense’s younger players. He mentioned a young player named Martim, who was suspended for the game.
For the 29-year-old captain, playing against a major club in the Cup fulfilled a personal ambition. He looks forward to finishing his career happily at Celoricense.