Sergio Conceicao claims that Mikel Arteta disrespected his family after Arsenal’s victory over Porto in the UEFA Champions League.

Porto head coach Sergio Conceicao has accused Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta of disrespecting his family following their UEFA Champions League last-16 defeat. The match was marred by on-pitch confrontations, and Conceicao even refused to shake Arteta’s hand, opting instead to exchange words with him.

Speaking about the incident after the game, Conceicao stated, “Arteta turned to the bench during the game and insulted my family in Spanish. I informed him that the person he insulted is no longer with us. He should focus on training his team, which has more than enough quality to perform better. The result was unjust. The team deserved to progress.”

Arteta, on the other hand, chose not to comment on the altercation with his counterpart. When asked about it by the media, he simply said, “No comment. Thank you very much.”

Both Arteta and Conceicao were booked during the tense match, which saw Arsenal equalize the tie at 1-1 through Leandro Trossard’s goal in the 41st minute. The match ultimately went to penalties, with goalkeeper David Raya emerging as the hero with two crucial saves, propelling Arsenal to the quarter-finals for the first time in 14 years.

Describing the victory as a “magic night,” Arteta acknowledged the challenge posed by Porto. He said, “We anticipated a tough opponent. It’s incredibly difficult to build momentum, and that’s credit to them. This is a significant experience for us. We had to secure our progress through penalties. Credit to David, who faced some tough moments initially but displayed incredible determination and was duly rewarded.”

Arteta also highlighted the significance of this achievement for the club, stating, “It’s a big step, especially for the club. We haven’t been in this competition for seven years, and it’s been 14 years since we reached this stage. That demonstrates the difficulty of the competition. We want more, and we will certainly go for it.”

Reflecting on his personal growth as a manager, Arteta expressed his commitment to continuous learning and improvement. He said, “This is the first time I’ve experienced this in the Champions League. I strive to learn every day, seek advice, and surround myself with good people and great coaches who can help me become better.”

In conclusion, Arsenal’s triumph over Porto was not without controversy, as Conceicao accused Arteta of insulting his family. However, Arteta chose to remain tight-lipped about the incident, focusing instead on his team’s hard-fought victory and their progress in the competition.