FC Porto’s Dublin glory at 15, a campaign fuelled by a cry of revolt | OneFootball

FC Porto’s Europa League triumph in Dublin is 15 years old, a night on 18 May 2011 when Braga were beaten and Radamel Falcao settled the final for André Villas-Boas’ brilliant side.

According to O Jogo, that team struck 44 goals in 17 matches, with Falcao relentless, and Villas-Boas, now club president, is credited with refreshing the mood as Porto ended a four-season title wait.

Hulk and Falcao led the line, with Lucho González, João Moutinho and Fernando in midfield, and full-backs Cristian Sapunaru and Álvaro Pereira recalling a campaign shaped by resolve after heavy bans following incidents at Luz the previous year.

Pereira remembers a ruthless route through Sevilla, CSKA Moscow, Spartak Moscow and Villarreal before the all-Portuguese final, including Falcao’s four-goal haul against the Spaniards. He also recalls Helton’s key stop from Mossoró and a pre-final video message from families.

Both men hail Villas-Boas’ influence, describing a youthful, emotionally tuned coach who galvanised ambition, valued individuals and channelled a powerful hunger for glory inside a connected dressing room.

Porto dominated domestically too, inflicting emphatic results on Benfica, and Pereira evokes a city swept up in joyous frenzy as the team kept its focus and delivered across all fronts.

Sapunaru refuses to pick one standout tie, says familiarity made the Portuguese final trickier, and treasures a shirt signed by team-mates on the flight home. He believes, under the president, another European title in the coming years is achievable.

Source: O Jogo