Jesualdo Ferreira is confident the pressure of requiring all three points will inspire his Porto side when they take on Dynamo Kyiv at the Estadio do Dragao.
Last month’s 4-0 defeat by Arsenal means that the forthcoming double-header with Dynamo has assumed huge significance.
“It’s no problem for us,” said the 62-year-old. “We are used to every match being important. We are conscious just how crucial it is to the club, the supporters, everyone. We are fully prepared though.”
Jesualdo, who will be without injured pair Fucile and Helton, is in his third season at the Dragao and he is bringing his experience to bear.
“It’s much too soon to start doing the maths – Arsenal have only one more point than us, so it’s premature to say that Porto and Dynamo are battling for second place behind them,” he noted. “The Arsenal game will mean nothing when we go into this one. We’ll have a better idea of where we after this match.”
Dynamo have improved since the appointment last December of Yuri Semin. The 61-year-old coach has plenty of respect for his opponents.
“Porto are a very strong side and are used to representing Portugal in Europe,” he said. “They are well-organised and stick together as a group.”
“We have four games left, all of equal importance,” he added. “Of course, there are some nerves, this is the Champions League,” he said. “But we go into the match with optimism.”
