By Melody Gross 
Nothing stops Baby. After threatening to be suspended due to the El Clasico events with Sporting, in the league, Porto’s defense chief circumvented the penalty with a precautionary measure that he confirmed in the fencing with the lions in the Portuguese Cup.
Unwavering, he has been fueled by the internal rebellion he felt due to his accusation of aggression against Hugo Viana whom he considers unfounded to deal the final blow to Sporting’s aspirations to win the title.
The pass that freed Tony Martinez from scoring was another classy note, to which he added several other players in Paulinho’s defense (zero shots) and Sarabia. True centralism, immune to the passage of time and external factors, is dominated by a hunger for titles. At 39, where is Pepe in the EDF hierarchy?
“I compare his influence to that of Van Dijk at Liverpool or Robin Dias at City. He is at this level, although Pepe is unique because at 39 he is nine years younger than Van Dijk and 14 years younger than Robin Dias, who fits in with him. well in Seleção.”
The speaker is Pedro Emanuel, six-time champion of FC Porto, winner of the Champions League and European League, among many other domestic titles. And the Intercontinental Cup is, of course, the former defender’s most famous moment. Those who have seen it will not forget that a piercing look at turning the crucial penalty against Lance Caldas – Blue’s 8-7 victory on penalties, on December 12, 2004, in Yokohama – is an image that has passed generations and has survived the erosion of time.
He remembers that when Pepe returned to FC Porto, there were those who predicted his retirement. “People doubted his condition because he came from Turkey, but knowing the competitive animal he was, I knew Pepe would enter the games with everything. Physiologically, he has characteristics that make him maintain longevity, he is a perfect professional who takes care of himself, which is why he returned to FC Porto to play and win”, says Pedro Emanuel, praising the clever way it used to be before. His teammate manages the moments of the match.
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