Villas-Boas and the strain of the role: “Being president is stressful” | OneFootball

André Villas-Boas spoke openly about his new reality as Porto president, making clear the differences from his past as a coach and not hiding the level of pressure that comes with the role.

“The role of president is more stressful, without a doubt,” he admitted to Marca, on the sidelines of an initiative with the Laureus Foundation.

“As a coach, you have more control over the team, the tactics, the preparation. Here, it’s about putting the right people in the right places, from football to finance or logistics. It’s a huge challenge.”

The move into this role was not simple. Villas-Boas acknowledged that the first year was marked by a profound reorganization: “It was a difficult year, one of transformation, very focused on the financial side. We managed to rebalance the club and give it a sustainable foundation. Now, there is more stability on the sporting side.”

That balance is beginning to show on the pitch, with the president highlighting the impact of Francesco Farioli: “The signing has been a success. We are top of the league, in the semi-finals of the Cup and the quarter-finals of the Europa League. We renewed his contract because we strongly believe in his work.”

In the interview, Villas-Boas was also asked about a possible future move for José Mourinho. In a diplomatic way, he replied like this.

“Porto and all its supporters had the opportunity to pay tribute to José when he left Fenerbahçe, before signing for Benfica, our biggest rival. I think that was important. He is currently Benfica’s coach and we exchange messages occasionally, showing respect for our respective clubs, because we are fighting for the same goal: to win the league.”

The decision to stop coaching, AVB assures, was also not taken on impulse. “I always wanted a short career. In recent years I prepared myself for this moment. The club needed change and the members wanted that, above all financial stability,” he explained, justifying his run for the presidency.

On FC Porto’s focus on the Spanish market, Villas-Boas highlighted the impact of Samu, Gabri Veiga and Borja Sainz: “The Samu deal was completed in 24 hours and it was an exceptional signing, not only because of his physical quality and talent, but also because of his personality. He is injured and we miss him.”

“Gabri? He was a player we really wanted. He is performing at an excellent level, probably having his best season in terms of numbers, and we believe he can reach the Spanish national team.”

As for winger Borja Sainz, Villas-Boas said that his goals and performances in England caught “the attention of Porto’s scouting department.”

“He went through a very difficult period with his mother’s death, but he has now recovered his best form. He is a player we like: he embodies the Porto spirit.”

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