“As Villas-Boas spoke, I hoped he’d ask me to manage FC Porto” | OneFootball

Arrival at FC Porto: “Circumstances led me to cross paths with the right people at the right time, and I believe that was the key to this season and the success we achieved. It all began in the first conversation with the president. We connected very quickly. When he started talking and explaining what FC Porto means to him, I began putting several ideas together in my head, because I felt a lot of passion and a huge desire to do something special. While he was speaking, I was just hoping he would ask me if I wanted to be FC Porto’s coach. Fortunately, that happened, and everything was sorted out quickly, in just a few days. There is always some paperwork, naturally, but it was a very intense start, and that energy helped us get to this point. It was not only down to us; it was also the result of the work of many people at Olival, especially the players, who are the main ones responsible. All those small steps allowed us to win the title and, with the celebrations still fresh in our memory, we are sure we will never forget it.”

Several new faces compared to the previous season: “Technical qualities are a bonus, because talent, by itself, is secondary. For a team to be successful, it needs a strong mentality and a clearly defined DNA. At this club, there is a very strong mystique that accompanies us in every action, every decision, and every step we take, on and off the pitch. Then, players with specific characteristics can make the difference, but to be truly competitive and have a chance of winning, there is no other secret. The key is here: in the team’s unity and in the spirit we maintained throughout the 53 matches we played.”

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