Porto look to cap memorable year
Friday 10 December 2004
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Porto reserve Pepe tries a trick in training (©Getty Images)
By Diogo Teixeira
In the last two years FC Porto have surprised the football world by winning two European trophies in a row. Now the Dragons are in Yokohama looking to defeat CD Once Caldas, and take the second European/South American Cup in their history.
Baía returns
After Tuesday's dramatic win against former coach José Mourinho's Chelsea FC side that guaranteed a place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, morale in the camp could not be higher. A further boost came with goalkeeper Vítor Baía's return to the squad after a month out of action.
'Training well'
He was able to join in the first training session in Kawasaki's Todori stadium on Friday together with Derlei, who had limped off against Chelsea with a hip problem. "He is training well and is now recovered from his injury," coach Víctor Fernández said of the goalkeeper.
South American presence
Another player back in the squad is Carlos Alberto, recalled following his exclusion against Chelsea. Fernández may reason that the Brazilian's dribbling skills will provide a useful weapon against the Colombians. Fernández, of course, can also call on two other Brazilians, Diego and Luís Fabiano, both of whom played against Once Caldas during their opponents' victorious Copa Libertadores campaign last season.
After a victory against a strong team like Chelsea, we are more confident
Luís Fabiano
Old rivals
"I didn't score when I played against them and we lost," recalled Fabiano, who finished the eight-goal top scorer in the 2004 competition with São Paulo FC before joining Porto. "I will do everything to win, and to score. After a victory against a strong team like Chelsea, we are more confident and I think we have what it takes to win another trophy." Fabiano joined Benni McCarthy in attack against Chelsea but Fernández said: "I don't know if they will play together again although I liked their work during our last match."
Kind conditions
This is the final European/South American Cup in Japan - next year it is subsumed into a new-look FIFA Club World Championship - and for Porto it is their second appearance. The conditions should be kinder than when they defeated Uruguay's CA Peñarol 2-1 in the middle of a snowstorm in 1987 - it was 12 degrees when they landed in Japan on Thursday evening. Arriving only three days beforehand, following a 14-hour flight, gives Porto little time to adjust, unlike their opponents who have been in Japan almost a week.
Physical factor
Speaking on Friday, Fernández said: "We have to plan our training sessions in the best possible way so that the players can recover from a physical point of view. We have to be very well-organised if we're going to be at our best against Once Caldas." Fernández - who described Porto as "very motivated" - added: "I've seen that they're an aggressive team with good players. They have the advantage of being here for a while as they have adapted to the time difference."
No advantage
The Colombians' coach Luis Montoya, however, does not believe his side's earlier arrival will give them any significant advantage. "Both teams will start the game in the same conditions," he said. "We've had more time here but Porto had a very important victory on Tuesday that will have lifted them."
Montoya's prediction
Once Caldas, who defeated holders CA Boca Juniors to win the South American crown, have since seen several key players depart, but Montoya said: "We have the chance to show that with little money we can do big things." He predicted "a very even match, with very little space" which could be "decided by a set-piece".
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