Porto manager Sergio Conceicao has laughed off criticism from Arsenal's Mikel Arteta after the Gunners fell 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.
After the game, Arteta aimed a dig at Porto’s tactics during the match, telling the media:
“We are very used to playing against these defensive blocks, especially in the first half we lacked certain things.”
“We will learn from it and do better in the second game. The best thing about our team was the attitude. We wanted to play. We didn’t lack aggression. Faced with such a low block and a team with no intention of playing, this is what we have to do.”
Porto’s manager Sérgio Conceição was then later informed of Arteta’s comments and issued a blunt response to the Gunners’ boss.
“It’s an opinion,” Conceicao said. “They wanted to play, we wanted to win.”
Further pressed on his side’s approach to the game, Conceicao insisted he was happy to give Arsenal plenty of possession – they finished with 65% off the ball – as he was confident they would not do anything with it.
“[Arteta] meant it, it seems to me,” he said of Arteta’s comments.
“He is from a school that privileges the possession of the ball, like [Pep] Guardiola, the most successful coach. They think the best way to win is to prioritise possession.”
“It depends on the team you have, the players you have and the strategy. 40-60% in possession is not a scandal, I wouldn’t mind having 30-70% and winning the same way. Possession of the ball is about what you do with it.”
“Possession serves to score goals and not concede goals. We had more connected possession and a more direct game for our forwards. We were the most dangerous team today.”
