Victory over Marítimo on Saturday evening would put FC Porto on the cusp of winning their 8th championship title in the last ten years. It would also go a long way to dissipating lingering doubts about whether or not coach Vítor Pereira is the right man to lead the Dragons.
When news broke that André Villas-Boas had decided to walk out on FC Porto to take over at Chelsea it was such a bombshell that what happened on the same day did not merit in-depth analysis.
Porto president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa wasted no time at all in appointing AVB’s erstwhile assistant, Vítor Pereira, to the top job.
Having been part of the coaching staff that had led an exhilarating attacking team to triple glory in the Portuguese League, Portuguese Cup and Europa League, few questioned the wisdom of promoting from within.
With a record budget of over 90 million euros at his disposal, and largely the same squad, many expected another stellar season from Porto. They didn’t get it.
Stuttering form in the league was compounded by a meek departure from the Champions League in the group stage and an embarrassingly early exit from the Portuguese Cup at the hands of Academica.
With Benfica holding a 5-point lead going into February, the writing was seemingly on the wall for Pereira.
A single courageous decision swung things back his way. Losing 2-1 and on the back foot in the vital clássico at Benfica’s Estádio da Luz, Pereira took off centre-back Rolando, transforming flanker Djalma into a wing-back, and introducing James Rodríguez, who had hours earlier completed a cross-Atlantic journey after representing Colombia.
Madness? A last desperate roll of the dice? A moment of coaching inspiration? Driven forward by the brilliant James, Porto seized the initiative and two goals gave them a vital 3-2 victory. More importantly, it gave them momentum.
Pereira has since been looking down at his opponents from above. Contestation against his continuing in the Porto dugout has died down.
He said yesterday: “I have another year to run on my contract and I expect to fulfil it.” A win against Marítimo and a championship triumph may well persuade Pinto da Costa to let him.
Porto president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa wasted no time at all in appointing AVB’s erstwhile assistant, Vítor Pereira, to the top job.
Having been part of the coaching staff that had led an exhilarating attacking team to triple glory in the Portuguese League, Portuguese Cup and Europa League, few questioned the wisdom of promoting from within.
With a record budget of over 90 million euros at his disposal, and largely the same squad, many expected another stellar season from Porto. They didn’t get it.
Stuttering form in the league was compounded by a meek departure from the Champions League in the group stage and an embarrassingly early exit from the Portuguese Cup at the hands of Academica.
With Benfica holding a 5-point lead going into February, the writing was seemingly on the wall for Pereira.
A single courageous decision swung things back his way. Losing 2-1 and on the back foot in the vital clássico at Benfica’s Estádio da Luz, Pereira took off centre-back Rolando, transforming flanker Djalma into a wing-back, and introducing James Rodríguez, who had hours earlier completed a cross-Atlantic journey after representing Colombia.
Madness? A last desperate roll of the dice? A moment of coaching inspiration? Driven forward by the brilliant James, Porto seized the initiative and two goals gave them a vital 3-2 victory. More importantly, it gave them momentum.
Pereira has since been looking down at his opponents from above. Contestation against his continuing in the Porto dugout has died down.
He said yesterday: “I have another year to run on my contract and I expect to fulfil it.” A win against Marítimo and a championship triumph may well persuade Pinto da Costa to let him.
