Braga captain Horta: We must improve image in Conference League home leg

Braga captain expects improved performance at home after 1-0 victory in Serbia

Ricardo Horta, who converted the penalty that secured Sporting Braga's 1-0 win over Zeleznicar Pancevo in Serbia, has called for a higher level of performance from his side in the second leg of the Conference League's second qualifying round.

On the Opponent and the First Leg

"It was clear we faced a team that knows how to play, especially in build-up play, with quality in ball circulation, and that's where we struggled," said the Braga captain in his pre-match preview.

Looking Ahead to the Home Leg

"But I feel that tomorrow (Thursday) will be different. At home, we have to take charge; we won't be playing on artificial turf, we want our own conditions to play a game with personality."

Horta acknowledged the need for improvement: "We have to change the image a bit, because we know it wasn't our best game."

On the Team's Approach

"We'll go in wanting to win the match, even more so in a tie like this. We have a good advantage, but we want to go in to win, score many goals, and improve our game. We'll face an interesting team, but I believe we can cause them more difficulties than what happened in Serbia."

Personal Ambitions

When asked about his dream for the season, Horta remained focused on the immediate task: "I don't know what to tell you, because my focus is on today's training and tomorrow's game. I don't want to make promises here; my next dream is to win the game tomorrow."

On the Upcoming Season

Regarding whether the start of the championship will be better than last season, Horta expressed confidence: "Yes, of course. I think that's noticeable within the squad and the club; we have a consolidated process. We did many good things, and this year we have to start the season by building on the good things from last year and adding consistency. That's noticeable in the group, in training, and it's easier to assimilate the ideas this year."

On Motivation

Reflecting on what drives him year after year, Horta said: "It's the passion I have for football; it's my life. My first toy was a ball, I've been playing since I was three, and that's what drives me. At Sp. Braga, it's about always doing better than last year. If I scored 21 goals last season, maybe I want to score 25 this one. I'm not getting any younger; I'll turn 32 in a month, but I like challenges, and being at Sp. Braga is a pleasure for me."