Unlike Manchester United’s Ruben Amorim, Vítor Bruno never had the opportunity to warn of the approaching storms over FC Porto.
At FC Porto, Bruno was sacrificed as a scapegoat for transgressions, many of which were probably the fault of those who chose him to coach the team.
Although it started in obscurity, the Dragon now has a bright sun at the beginning of a long-awaited new era. Although there was an acknowledged attempt to financially rehabilitate the club and its affiliated organization, which were on the verge of failure, promises of transparency were fulfilled by people who seemed unconcerned about it for many years – possibly as long as 42 years. In addition, communication has evolved into a modern format.
However, despite some small slip-ups – perhaps understandable in the heat of the moment and inside the locker room – the feeling of revitalization of a club that aspires to modernity endures.
Given the emphasis on community responsibility that was previously emphasized before the elections, the congratulations from the outgoing president are mostly meaningless.
Although the early days under André Villas-Boas have been difficult, this new FC Porto has already made progress outside the boardroom. The team is fighting to stay in the Europa League, having won the Super Cup and been knocked out of the League Cup and the Portuguese Cup. There is still a legitimate chance of finishing top, although they are now one point behind Benfica and four points behind league leaders Sporting. However, that may not be enough for the chairman and the fans, especially given the recent sacking of the coach, even though the team finished third last season, a staggering 18 points behind the champions.
For any football team, selecting a head coach is crucial. Don’t be fooled by the glitz and glamour of project announcements. It is far more important that the chairman avoids making the same mistake twice if he feels he made a mistake with the previous appointment. Martín Anselmi, a 39-year-old who has been praised for his performance in Mexico but has no European experience and is probably unfamiliar with Portuguese football culture, is reportedly in talks to join FC Porto. Should that arise, Villas-Boas would be taking yet another risk.
Depending on whether the Porto chairman is willing to openly admit that the team is at a disadvantage to other championship contenders due to financial issues left over from the previous administration, the magnitude of the risk could change. This would be similar to how Amorim handled the impending storm at Manchester United. When the chairman spoke of his intention to win the Europa League and his dedication to winning every competition in September, Vítor Bruno did not have the luxury of such insight. A storm has hit Porto, and it is unclear whether it will be a short-lived one that ushers in a new era or a catastrophic incident that sends the team back to its darkest days.
Due to a questionable refereeing decision late in the match, Benfica lost to Barcelona in the Champions League in a thrilling game. They now need to maintain the level of football they produced to advance, confirming their belief that they are on the right track. It will not be an easy journey.
