Costinha: Hard work the secret to our success

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The Portugal defender has broken into the team and is enjoying helping Albion keep clean sheets.

Nick Szczepanik

2026-11-13T05:00+00:00

Costinha clears his lines during Sunday's 2-0 win over Brentford which lifted Albion to second in the Premier League. 📷Paul Hazlewood.

Albion defender Costinha believes that hard work in pre-season, carried on in day-to-day training, is behind the club’s lofty league position – and his own success in establishing himself in the team.

The 26-year-old right back had to wait for his first Premier League start, away to Manchester City, but he has not missed a minute of action since replacing the injured Ferdi Kadioglu at Liverpool on October 25.

He has played some part in 15 games in all competitions, ten of which have ended in Albion clean sheets.

“I played, I trained for this,” he said. “I tried to improve in the beginning, pre-season, after pre-season. I trained to improve, because I came from a different league. I was waiting for my opportunity and now I can enjoy it. I'm so excited and so happy to play.

“It’s another level, a really good level to play in the Conference League and really good games in the Premier League. It was a good experience for us and for me as well.

“I feel good. One or two days after the game I feel more tired, but before the game I have to be prepared. I do my job at home and in the training ground to be even better.”

Many pundits have remarked on Albion’s fitness levels this season. How did pre-season here compare with his previous clubs?

“It was different, yes. Maybe it was harder because the level is higher as well. Physically the players here in the Premier League are at a higher level. I prepared for this in the pre-season and before the pre-season as well,” he added.

We sit down with our latest summer signing Costinha as he looks ahead to his time at the Albion.

Costinha – a nickname he picked up at age ten, meaning “little Costa” in reference to his full name, Joao Pedro Loureiro da Costa – will be taking a rest during the international break. But surely as a regular in a top-two Premier League side he might be able to expect an international call from Portugal at some stage?

“It's a dream, of course. I want to be there, but first of all I have to play here, to improve here as well. I have to improve and keep my place. One day, who knows? Yes, in the last games [I have been a regular]. This can change, but I will do my best to keep it like this.”

He arrived at the club from Olympiacos, where he played against Barcelona and Real Madrid in the Champions League last season. Did he expect to be challenging for another tilt at Europe’s elite competition?

“I'm not surprised, but it's not normal like you had before last year. Every training session and all the staff around the team, everyone helps. It makes the team more strong. Everyone believes in the same idea.

"When we are together, everything is much better for us. We believe in each other. Some players don't play [as much as] they want, but they are together with us, they help a lot. This is our secret, maybe.”