Zaidu Sanusi had an unhappy return to the starting lineup of FC Porto as he only lasted 45 minute in their 0-0 draw against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
The left back pushed for a move away from the club during the summer transfer window and during the time under review he was left out of their squad for games.
With the transfer window now closed in all countries, he was handed another chance to make amends for the poor way he has started the season which led to the signing of Brazilian left back Wendell.
It wasn’t to be as he was substituted just before the start of the second half by Wendell as they hold on to a 0-0 draw, coach of the team Sergio Conceicao took out time to explain the thinking behind pulling him off.
“It was for the yellow that I took Zaidu. I felt that the referee was giving yellow cards to FC Porto players too easily and we couldn’t risk being outnumbered. The work of the full-backs was very important in our strategy, but it all started with the work of the forwards up front”, the coach explainer.
”Although João Mário is making a fantastic start to the season, albeit with some accumulated wear, I thought Corona’s experience and Zaidu’s freshness and speed were interesting for this game. I took Zaidu at halftime because he was yellow.”
