Francisco J. Marques slams Villas-Boas: “FC Porto have fallen” | OneFootball

Francisco J. Marques took to social media this Wednesday to publish an extensive text about the current phase of FC Porto, focusing on the team's drop in the UEFA ranking, especially since the transition from Pinto da Costa to André Villas-Boas – a change heavily criticized by the former director of communication and information of the club – at the helm of the blues and whites.

“Today I continue with another issue that they don't tell us, which I also addressed at the General Assembly, and it is the abrupt decline of FC Porto's international strength and prestige. PdC handed over FC Porto in 18th place in the UEFA ranking and qualified for the Club World Cup (plus the 18.6 million euros in revenue). What happened after that was a shameful participation, without a single victory, in the Club World Cup and a drop to 28th place in the UEFA ranking and the first time since 1977/78 that we are in third position among national teams,” he began writing on his social media account X (formerly Twitter).

“Yes, for 48 years Sporting was not ahead of us, which happened now as a consequence of us finishing in 63rd position last season, with 9.750 points, the same as APOEL Nicosia and behind giants like Shamrock Rovers or Jagiellonia Bialystok – this year we currently occupy a modest 49th position, behind Braga, Benfica, and Sporting, but with the expectation of climbing many positions in the upcoming rounds – it seems impossible, but the points from the preliminary rounds and a simple victory in the league phase plus the bonus for qualifying allow Benfica to still be ahead of us in the ranking just for this season,” emphasized the former director of communication and information of the blues and whites.

“But the worst is not being told that in 2029, when the second edition of the Club World Cup is held, which is even rumored to be organized by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, as a kind of rehearsal for the national teams' World Cup the following year, we will not participate and we risk seeing Benfica or Sporting, or even both, in our place. Honestly, in my humble opinion, this is not a minor detail, this is FC Porto quickly abandoning the elite of world football where it arrived with much effort and sacrifice and being replaced by our rivals,” Francisco J. Marques further lamented.

Criticism intensified

The former head of the club's communication insisted again on the points he raised at the last FC Porto General Assembly – a session that approved the accounts and resulted in the exclusion of Sandra Madureira as a member – and directly pointed out a “blunder” by André Villas-Boas, launching several reflections on the club's future.

“No, not everything is fine, there are many things wrong, much worse than they were, especially in the sports field, which is the reason for FC Porto's existence, as I once again demonstrate with facts, not with propaganda or empty rhetoric. While digging up and burying the hatchet with Sporting, projecting an image of weakness, since it was Varandas who threw the first stone, while pursuing members who made mistakes but should not be simply excluded (there are other less definitive ways to punish), because this only increases the feeling of division, we see others accumulating points on the ranking path. There are four years left, and we already know that our only chance to participate is to win the Champions League in the spring of 2027 or 2028, which seems unrealistic – the explanation is a bit complex, the qualification period goes from last season to the 27/28 season, in Europe the only one already qualified is PSG, for being European champion in 24/25, but if anyone has doubts just search the internet (if really necessary I will explain),” the former director stated.

“When I mentioned this at the General Assembly, I got the feeling that the FC Porto management was unaware, or pretended to be unaware. I don't know, only they can say, but I know that less than two months ago in the editorial of the Dragões magazine, president André Villas-Boas showed complete ignorance on these matters, as demonstrated by the following excerpt: ‘After being overtaken by the Netherlands in the UEFA countries' coefficient ranking, we see Belgium approaching quickly and dangerously. Our League faces the real risk of maintaining the poor position it occupies or even losing another, which would have serious consequences for all national football. If Belgium surpasses Portugal, only the national champion will participate in the main European competition, compromising essential financial revenues for the sustainability of the clubs…’,” he emphasized further.

“Portugal is currently in seventh place, which is far from being a poor position, and can qualify two clubs for the Champions League, the champion directly and the runner-up through the preliminary rounds and play-off. If it falls to eighth place, as is very likely to happen next season, Portugal will continue to have exactly the same teams in the Champions League. In other words, what AVB wrote is false, and it would have been enough for the president of FC Porto to note that Belgium is currently in eighth place and has Union Saint-Gilloise and Club Brugge in the present Champions League to avoid such a blunder. Furthermore, Portugal's drop in the ranking is more due to FC Porto than any other club, because it is FC Porto that has abruptly declined in performance,” concluded Francisco J. Marques.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.