Vítor Pereira: “I see FC Porto reviving their spirit and fighting to win” | OneFootball

The Nottingham Forest manager showed that he has been keeping a close eye on current events at FC Porto, now under the presidency of André Villas-Boas. “FC Porto is a great club and still is. Clubs live off trophies and, when they do not win, there is turbulence — I followed all of that closely, attentively and even with an emotional connection. I see an FC Porto in transition, trying to recover its mystique and competing to win. That is how clubs rise from the ashes. I was very saddened by the death of president Pinto da Costa, someone incomparable when it comes to trophies. Now there is a new president, with ideas, who is trying to put the club back at the top and fighting for everything.”

In remarks balancing praise and respect, the Portuguese coach also stressed the need to manage the team’s workload well. “The priority is to win the next match, which is this one. The Europa League is important, but it is also essential to keep the club in the Premier League. I have to find that balance. The players need to feel that they are important and that they can help the team.”

Vítor Pereira also confirmed that Chris Wood “is available for the match and has been training normally,” and highlighted Brazilian Igor Jesus: “He has everything it takes to be a top goalscorer, he knows how to attack, he knows how to defend, he is the kind of player who is a pleasure to coach.”

A reunion with familiar faces was also discussed. Castro and Lucho González, currently assistants to Francesco Farioli at FC Porto, were his players when he managed the Dragons. A BOLA asked Vítor Pereira whether he could have seen them going into coaching: “Castro always had contagious energy — it does not surprise me that FC Porto brought him into the first team, even to help create that special mystique. Lucho was an intelligent captain, and I never had any doubts that he would become a coach. FC Porto did very well to invest in them, because they convey mystique and will help Farioli a lot.”

As for the congested schedule and the breaks for international duty, the coach did not complain, but admitted how demanding the current moment is: “It is the reality and we cannot avoid it. We made good use of these days to prepare the players. We have to be competitive against FC Porto and then against Aston Villa. I want a team with intensity, organisation and a strong mentality to play in a full stadium, with the passion that FC Porto’s fans bring.”

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