David Carmo starts to work, and Pepe says that Porto is “a target that needs to be shot down.”

Centre-back David Carmo made his Porto debut this Wednesday on the day that eight internationals returned from vacation, including Pepe, who claimed the Blues and Whites were a “shooting target” this season.

“We are aware and confident that our goal is to become champions, so we have to work very well. We must improve what we did last year. I want to honor our club and Portugal. We have to work hard, with great passion, so that we can arrive happy at the end of the year,” said the captain of the “dragons”.

Pepe, Diogo Costa, Otavio, Taremi, Joao Mario, Zaidu, Grujic and Eustaquio all showed up at Dragao for medical and physical tests, while young center David Carmo, who was introduced on Tuesday as reinforcements for the next five seasons, in exchange for 20 million euros, he got acquainted with the sports training center PortoGaia.

At the age of 39, Pepe spoke of his longevity in the top competition – “the fruit of good luck that he can be at a great club like Porto where people work in an impressive way” – highlighting the fact that he is under the supervision of a coach who “demands a lot” from his pupils.

His good physical and mental condition allows him to “do his best for the club” in an effort to improve the previous season in which the Dragons won the “double”, namely the championship and the Portuguese Cup.

“This is our mission because we want to be healthy, bring joy to our fans and enjoy what we love to do. This is a year that will require a lot from everyone, and we will certainly cope with this task. jersey,” he concluded.

Pepe and his teammates, who started work this Wednesday, underwent medical examinations and check-ups at the Espregueira Clinic at the Dragau Stadium.

The core team worked with the B team in the morning at the PortoGaia Athletic Training and Education Center in Olivale, with cornerback Wilson Manafa the only one to appear on the clinical bulletin doing conditioning and gym work.

This afternoon the Portuguese champions are heading to the Algarve where they will train until July 14th.