André Villas-Boas hails Jorge Jesus and assesses FC Porto’s I Liga advantage | OneFootball

André Villas-Boas praised Jorge Jesus’s early work with Portugal, weighed up FC Porto’s I Liga lead and addressed Benfica’s post-clássico complaints during the club’s 133rd anniversary event at Estádio do Dragão.

According to O Jogo, the Porto president said Jesus is still settling with the national team and needs time to apply a unique method, noting victories over Wales, 1-0, and Norway, 2-1, in the Nations League. He contrasted Jesus’s leadership and working style with Roberto Martínez’s and felt players are already buying into new ideas.

Assessing the first seven rounds, he highlighted Porto’s perfect start and a five-point cushion over second-placed Benfica, with Sporting a further point back. He framed the advantage as the result of Porto’s work and rivals dropping points, adding last season’s home draw with Benfica became a win this year, and urged the team to keep going.

On the 3-1 win against Benfica and subsequent controversy, he described the reactions as natural, saying the three-week gap amplified debate around the league’s biggest fixture. He said people reflect on results differently, some savouring wins, others defeats.

Responding to reports of a Benfica complaint over an alleged Samu incident involving Alexander Bah, he argued opponents look for creative ways to suspend Porto players. He maintained nothing will come of it, saying incidents can escape officials, VAR lacked the angles to judge the light contact properly, and it would not have been a red card, calling it an attempt to condition Porto’s players.

Porto face Deportivo in a friendly at Riazor in A Coruña on 2 October at 18:00, then resume official action on 10 October away to Marítimo in Madeira.

Source: O Jogo

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