Bernardo Tavares Doesn't Promise Titles, Stresses Process and Hard Work at Persebaya Surabaya

New Coach of Persebaya Surabaya, Bernardo Tavares, began laying the initial foundation with the team upon arriving in Surabaya. The coach from Portugal landed at Juanda International Airport on Sunday night, January 4, 2026, and immediately outlined his primary focus during the early phase of his leadership at the club beloved by Bonek supporters.

“Currently we need to understand what we possess,” stated Tavares when met by reporters at Juanda International Airport Surabaya on Sunday night.

According to Tavares, his first step will involve comprehensively understanding Persebaya. He aims to familiarize himself with the “house” he'll inhabit—from team structure and youth players to the main squad—before making strategic decisions regarding team changes or development.

The 44-year-old coach revealed he has conducted preliminary analysis of Persebaya's performance. He studied several matches, including characteristics of players who previously featured for other clubs or played in different positions. This evaluation forms the initial groundwork for determining the team's future playing direction.

Despite arriving with a stellar reputation, Tavares emphasized he brings no lofty promises about instant success. His core focus is building the team through hard work and consistent processes.

“I'm not promising trophies. I came to work,” he declared.

Tavares also highlighted Persebaya's status as a major club with an exceptionally strong supporter base. He noted the stadium atmosphere serves as a key strength, particularly during home matches, providing significant on-field motivation for players.

He hopes full fan support will reappear when Persebaya faces Malut United in their next match. Tavares acknowledged the opponent's stable performance, requiring extra energy from the stands for Persebaya to achieve optimal results.

Additionally, Tavares urged realism regarding Persebaya's league position. The tight Liga 1 competition and point gap with top-tier teams present challenges demanding level-headed responses.

He stressed the importance of cooperation, humility, and patience in gradually building momentum. For Tavares, victories and defeats remain inseparable parts of Football.

“What matters most is we demonstrate maximum effort on the pitch,” he emphasized.

Furthermore, the former PSM Makassar coach identified team stability and mutual respect as crucial for Persebaya's journey. He asserted that coaches, players, management, and supporters must move collectively since no results can be achieved individually.

Tavares also appreciated Persebaya's facilities and environment. However, he underscored that building solid foundations requires long-term processes, including integrating senior players' roles with academy talents.

“We must proceed step by step to achieve optimal results,” he concluded.