Porto head coach Sergio Conceicao hits back at Mikel Arteta tactics criticism after Arsenal defeat

Sergio Conceicao, the head coach of Porto, has responded angrily to Mikel Arteta’s assertion that his squad “had no intention of playing” in Wednesday night’s Champions League loss to Arsenal.

Arsenal appeared to be heading out of the Estadio do Dragao with a goalless draw until Porto took advantage of a mishandled ball by Gabriel Martinelli, and Galeno beat David Raya with a well-placed curling shot from distance.

Arteta’s side lacked the same fluidity they’ve displayed in the Premier League in recent weeks and failed to register a shot on target in the Champions League for the first time since 2011.

When asked about Porto’s tactics, Arteta said after Arsenal’s defeat: ‘We are very used to playing against these defensive blocks, especially in the first half we lacked certain things.

‘We will learn from it and be better in the return game.

‘The best thing about our team was the attitude. We wanted to play. We didn’t lack aggression. Faced with such a low block and a team with no intention of playing, this is what we have to do.’

When asked about Arteta’s assessment on Porto’s approach to the game, said: ‘It’s an opinion. They wanted to play, we wanted to win.

‘Arteta is from the [Pep] Guardiola school, who is the coach with the most titles in the world.

‘They think that the best way to beat their opponents is to have more possession of the ball, but that depends on the team and the performers they have.

‘We had 40%-60% possession of the ball, which is not a scandal. I didn’t mind having 30%-70% and winning too. It all depends on what you do with the ball within the strategy defined to score goals.’