Porto old boy prepares for worst

By Nuno Tavares

At the highest level of European football, with the best players circulating from club to club, conflicts of emotion are almost inevitable. As he lines up for Wednesday's UEFA Champions League semi-final, defender Jorge Andrade knows that RC Deportivo La Corunã can only progress at the expense of his old club, FC Porto.

Fond memories
"It's great to face Porto and to be able to meet my former team-mates again," he told uefa.com as he looked forward to returning to the Estádio do Dragão. "I very much enjoyed my time there and it's always good to return to a place where you are welcomed."

Mighty presence
The Portuguese international has developed into a mighty presence at the heart of the Deportivo defence after a shaky start to his Spanish league career following a move from Porto in summer 2002. Swift and graceful, Jorge Andrade's terrific form has brought him to the verge of his first major European final.

'Even further'
"We are extremely happy to be one of the four teams still in the Champions League," he said. "It's the first time that the club has reached this stage and we are going to give it our best shot in order to go even further."

Bitter experience
AC Milan know from bitter experience how fierce Depor's best shot can be. Leading 4-1 from the first leg of their quarter-final at the San Siro, Carlo Ancelotti's side were handed a 4-0 thrashing at the Riazor in the return in what may yet be remembered as the greatest comeback in Champions League history.

Milan mistakes
"We played a perfect game on that occasion," said Jorge Andrade, one of many Deportivo heroes that night. "We will need to produce a similar display against Porto if we want to have a crack at the tie. We can't make the same mistakes we did in Milan. It could be fatal if we give Porto the edge."

Mourinho magic
Certainly, the defender is in a better position than most to judge the calibre of Deportivo's opponents. Jorge Andrade may only have played half a season under Porto's awe-inspiring coach José Mourinho but it was enough to convince him of the wonders that the former FC Barcelona assistant coach can work.

Corner turned
"Things were not going our way and his arrival changed that almost immediately," remembered the 26-year-old, looking back to Mourinho's arrival at Porto midway through the 2001/02 campaign. "The team improved drastically and the good results started to flood in."

Winning momentum
Porto's winning momentum took them to a treble of Portuguese league and cup and UEFA Cup last season, and Jorge Andrade was well aware that Javier Irureta's team would need to find something a bit special if they were to derail Mourinho's men - who are now just one win away from retaining their domestic title.

A bit special
However, as the close attentions of Manchester United FC and Barcelona in recent months have demonstrated, Jorge Andrade at his best is more than a bit special, and Deportivo may do well to hold on to him until his current contract expires in 2009.

'I love Depor'
For the moment, however, Jorge Andrade is happy to stay put. "It's always good to see such important clubs interested in me, but I feel wonderful here," he said. "I love Depor and La Coruna." If he can help pull the plug on Porto, it is hard to see how his club could love him more.