FC Porto player Pepe has acknowledged Arsenal’s fortune in their recent Champions League shootout victory over Porto.
Despite Porto’s 1-0 win in the first leg, Arsenal managed to level the aggregate score with Leandro Trossard’s goal in the return leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Pepe disclosed that Porto’s strategy was to neutralize Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard, who played a pivotal role by providing an exceptional assist for Trossard’s goal.
Following a deadlock after 120 minutes, Arsenal secured their quarter-final spot through a penalty shootout, with David Raya saving two Porto spot-kicks.
Pepe admitted that their plan to silence Arsenal’s captain didn’t entirely succeed.
Despite delivering a stellar defensive performance, Porto fell short, and Pepe expressed gratitude towards the fans for their incredible support while lamenting Porto’s elimination as part of football.
Pepe praised his teammates for executing the coach’s instructions but highlighted missed opportunities to score.
Despite creating numerous challenges for Arsenal, Porto couldn’t capitalize on their chances, partially attributing Arsenal’s success to luck.
Pepe emphasized the importance of resolving the game within regular time through better offensive execution to avoid a shootout.
He acknowledged the team’s fatigue but commended their resilience and urged them to learn from the experience.
At the age of 41, Pepe attributed his ability to handle the intensity of playing 120 minutes to his passion for football and dedicated commitment to his profession, emphasizing the importance of self-care.
