Vítor Hugo on Pinto da Costa and Villas-Boas: “We’re on track” | OneFootball

Vítor Hugo accompanied Pinto da Costa during the final days of his presidency at FC Porto and holds very positive memories of the charismatic leader of the Dragons. In statements to the newspaper Record, the former vice-president of the club and roller hockey reference recalled the legacy of Pinto da Costa, on the occasion of the first year since his passing, and expressed confidence that FC Porto will soon return to success.

“I hope that FC Porto can maintain the 1st place and continue winning. That was what happened for many years under the presidency of Pinto da Costa. I am convinced that it is only a matter of time until it happens again. The legacy remains, a stadium, a pavilion, a training center, and above all, a museum full of trophies. It is an indisputable legacy. When people seek to know what happened during all those years, they should think of these things, which are many, and put them all together. Pinto da Costa changed the mentality of a club, the fans, the players, that is the greatest legacy he could have left,” Vítor Hugo began by recalling.

The football team did not add trophies to the museum last season, but the former vice-president of the Dragons believes in a near turnaround, especially since the team led by Francesco Farioli is heading in the right direction.

“These are growing pains. Not everything went well last year, but this year things are going well, and I hope it ends with FC Porto in the place it deserves, which is winning the national title. It was a pity what happened in the last game. Those in charge of the club perfectly understand the demands of a club like this, and I am convinced that FC Porto will become national champions again, which is the place destined for them and which they deserve, because they are clearly the best national team,” emphasized the former hockey player, aged 62.

At the moment marking the first year since the passing of Pinto da Costa, the name of the legendary leader has once again gained prominence due to criticism from Sporting, which, in a statement, associated the current leadership of FC Porto with the period when the club was presided over by Pinto da Costa. Vítor Hugo interprets this comparison as a compliment to the way André Villas-Boas has been leading the club.

“As a Porto fan, I see this comparison as a very good sign for the battles ahead and it is a sign that we are on the right track. As our eternal president used to say, he might have been an angel, but he was certainly no little angel. I find it unbelievable the arrogance of those who consider themselves morally superior. A shame this hysteria over what happened in the last game, a game that ended with a fair result, just as our victory at Alvalade had been fair. And since there were no incidents, they had to create them,” concluded the former Dragons official.

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