Five Things FC Porto can look forward to in the 2011/2012 Season – Portuguese Primeira Liga Special
With the new season on the horizon, Bettor.com analyzes five things that will have any Porto Fan ecstatic.
1. Andre Villas Boas will stay be in the dugout next season
Everyone affiliated with the Portistas know that everything they achieved last season was mostly due to their Messiah Andre Villas Boas and they will be thrilled with the news, that he will remain Manager next year.
The 33-year-old was rumoured to be on his way to Chelsea and the Dragao faithful were fearing the worst until Porto President Da Costa waived away all gossip of Boas leaving Portugal.
“I do not expect the exit of Villas-Boas – there is a clause price of 15 Million Euros but I am totally convinced that even if any club came in with the offer, he would reject the proposition.”
“Villas-Boas is very committed to Porto and more so after this big season,” he went on to say.
Not since the golden days of the “Special One” has this kind of trophy haul been seen in Portugal and with Chelsea now turning their attention to a more familiar face in the shape of Guus Hiddink, fans of the Portuguese giants can sit
back and watch another big name take the reign as Stamford Bridge, knowing that he won’t last long!
2. Radamel Falcao will still delight Porto fans with his predatory instincts
An out and out goal scorer always brings fans to their seats with his plethora of skills and you can bet on the fact that the spectators will be on their toes whenever Falcao will receive the ball next season!
A confirmed target of Arsenal and Tottenham, the Columbian International has said that a move to either club would be very difficult and has advised the Portista fans to calm down and not worry about his future.
With a jaw dropping return of 38 goals in only 42 appearances, it’s no wonder that the fans of the Portuguese Super Cup winners are rejoicing at the stay of their star man.
3. The return of the UEFA Champions League to the Estadio do Dragao
The sound of the anthem of the World’s biggest club competition will bring tears and precious memories to any Dragon fan and now they can once again experience the thrills of Europe’s Elite at their own stadium.
After securing a win over SC Braga in the UEFA Europa League final, Falcao and Company will be facing illustrious company as they look to repeat the antics which Jose Mourinho’s men did at the Gelsenkirchen in 2004
4. UEFA Super Cup Final against Barcelona
This date in Monaco will be anything but Romantic! The Spanish giants have their Holy Trinity in Messi, Xavi and Iniesta, but can the Dragons undo the Catalans, something which even the great Manchester United could not do!
Expect fireworks to fly when Andre Villas Boas’s team face arguably the greatest club side in football history!
5. Rivals will struggle to catch up with the all conquering Porto
They received the trophy of every competition they entered this season,
such has been the magic of Villas Boas and his team.
If anything the opposition will be even more timid, unless Porto fail spectacularly and dethrone themselves as the Champions of Portugal.
The likes of Benfica and Sporting have both lost or in the process of losing major players like Fabio Coentrao, Nuno Gomes and without any talent influx, they will yet again be cast aside by the likes of Falcao and Hulk, who both have
chosen to remain with Porto despite interest from foreign clubs.
With those facts in mind wouldn’t bet against the Primeira Liga trophy nestling in Porto’s trophy cabinet yet again.