Costinha's Porto progress

By Fergus O'Shea

For many, a goalless draw at home against Russia's PFC CSKA Moskva in their opening UEFA Champions League game of 2004/05 marked a disappointing start to FC Porto's defence of their title. However, for midfield player Costinha, it was no disaster.

First-night nerves
"It's just the first game and I think that with more work we will get better results," Costinha told uefa.com. "We didn't score goals but we had very good chances - one in the first half and two in the second half. If you do not score in this competition it is always difficult. At the end 0-0 is a fair result."

Summer churn
After a tempestuous spell, which has seen three different coaches in charge in quick succession, and the likes of Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, Deco and Pedro Mendes all leaving, it is almost a minor miracle that the Portuguese champions showed any fluency at all against CSKA.

Coaching merry-go-round
Having lost José Mourinho, and the pick of his Champions League-winning side, to Chelsea FC, his replacement Luigi del Neri lasted barely a month at Porto before he was ousted without leading his side in a single competitive game. His replacement, Spaniard Víctor Fernández, took over on 11 August.

Limited time
"We have only been with the coach one month so we have not worked a lot with him," said Costinha, the Portuguese international who will turn 31 on 22 September. "When we have had more time to work with him I am sure it will produce better results for the club."

New signings
On top of the coaching changes, a bewildering number of players arrived at the club as Porto were quick to invest their Champions League prize money. Giorgios Seitaridis, Ricardo Quaresma, Hugo Leal, Luís Fabiano, Diego, Raul Meireles, Paulo Assunção and Hélder Postiga were among the newcomers.

Bedding in
Costinha insisted that it would take his new team-mates a while to establish themselves. "They just came to the club but they have a lot of talent and we, the older players at the club, expect good things from them," he said. "We have to give them time and support so that they can do a good job in the future."

Chelsea beckons
However, with the group stage now under way, time is not on Porto's side. The games are coming thick and fast now, in the Portuguese SuperLiga and the Champions League, with their next European challenge involving a trip to face their old coach Mourinho at Chelsea on 29 September.

Winning start
With Chelsea having made their European ambitions plain with a confident 3-0 win at Paris Saint-Germain FC in their opening Group H game, Porto may face a stern test at Stamford Bridge, but for the time being at least, Costinha is not losing any sleep over the match.

We have games in our championship to win, because it is most important for us to win the title, and then we will think about ChelseaCostinha

Domestic focus
"Chelsea won their first game, but if we win our matches then we have done our job," he said. "They are a great team, they are strong but this is only the first game. We have games in our championship to win, because it is most important for us to win the title, and then we will think about Chelsea."

Important meeting
Having watched his side drop two points against a Tottenham Hotspur FC side featuring Porto old boy Mendes at the weekend, perhaps it will be Mourinho who will be lying awake as he ponders his next rendezvous with Costinha.