Club Brugge vs FC Porto - Porto still a European force, says Club Brugge boss Preud'homme - 7M sport

Club Brugge vs FC Porto - Porto still a European force, says Club Brugge boss Preud'homme



Posted Tuesday, October 18, 2016 by PA

Club Brugge coach Michel Preud'homme believes Tuesday night's Champions League opponents Porto remain a major force in European football.

Porto are renowned as one of Europe's biggest selling clubs and have received in excess of B£400million in combined fees for players sold since Jose Mourinho guided them to Champions League glory in 2004.

But the Portuguese outfit have appeared in the Champions League in nine of the last 10 seasons, reaching the quarter-finals in 2015, and former Belgium goalkeeper Preud'homme admires their consistency.

"FC Porto are certainly not less good than in my time," he told Brugge's official website.

"It is a team that is characterised by lots of transfers, both incoming and outgoing.

"But they continue to play at the highest level in Portugal and in Europe, despite these many changes, and they play on a consistentli high level."

Brugge, who lost 1-0 to domestic rivals Charleroi on Friday night, will be looking to kick-start their Group G campaign at the Jan Breydel Stadium after losing 3-0 to Leicester and 4-0 in Copenhagen in their two previous games.

"The regular league is more important for us in the long run, but we play in the Champions League now and that is the highest platform to show yourself as a team," Preud'homme added.

"We have to give everything to achieve a result here because our goal is to make a name for ourselves in Europe."

Preud'homme's squad will be boosted by the return to contention of midfielder Ruud Vormer, winger Anthony Limbombe and forward Felipe Gedoz.

Porto drew their opening Group G game against Copenhagen and lost 1-0 at Leicester at the end of last month. They are third in the Group G table with just a point.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side warmed up for their trip to Belgium with a 3-0 win at Gafanha in the Portuguese Cup.

"Now is the time to think of Club Brugge," Santo told his club's official website. "We know how important the match is and we will take the team we feel to be the best again, with every option available.

"We want to keep growing and we are prepared for the match."



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