André e José, a inevitável comparação

A inevitável comparação entre Villas-Boas e Mourinho, mas também Guardiola e Falcao, são os pontos chave da crónica publicada no respeitável The Times, acerca da Final da Liga Europa.


«André Villas-Boas goes to great lengths to stress he is a normal coach, and very different from you-know-who, but there is nothing normal about his record. (…) Chelsea are one of several leading clubs taking a close interest in Villas-Boas’s remarkably rapid career development (…).

Having finished 38 points behind them in the league, Braga seemed intent on kicking Porto’s ball-players out of the game so they showed commendable patience in refusing to be dragged down to their opponents’ level. The dark art of simulation was also rarely in evidence, illustrating another point of difference between Villas-Boas and his estranged mentor, José Mourinho.

Villas-Boas, who worked as a scout at Stamford Bridge under Mourinho, was cut off by his compatriot when he opted to leave his technical staff at Inter Milan to pursue his own ambitions last season, but showed his class by dedicating this victory to his former boss as well as Sir Bobby Robson, who had the kindness and maybe even a prophetic insight to indulge a fanatical Portuguese teenager’s relentless questioning almost two decades ago. Of greater surprise was the special mention for Pep Guardiola, whose attacking methods he clearly holds in higher regard than the defensive arts he learnt under Mourinho. (…)
“Pep was always an inspiration for me because of his methodology, and the way he plays such fantastic football. His philosophy is Barça’s philosophy. He defends the spectacle of the game. The only thing I regret in this final is not being able to put on a better spectacle.”

Porto were unable to showcase the free-flowing football that has been their hallmark this season because of Braga’s tactics, but dominated possession and scored a goal worthy of any final. (…)
Falcao’s 17 Europa League goals have shattered Jürgen Klinsmann’s record for the most in a European campaign and led to Porto inserting a €30 million (about £26.4 million) buy-out clause in his contract. Given the 25-year-old’s speed and ability in the air however, there is a danger he may have been undervalued.
Porto have made no such mistake with Hulk by giving the Brazil striker a 100 million buy-out clause, although their biggest concern is keeping Villas-Boas. Chelsea, Juventus and Roma lead the interested parties, but by his own admission it will take an extraordinary offer to prize him away. “My release clause is very, very high,” he said. “It’s something that’s not normal.” Much like the man himself.»


Foto e texto extraídos do The Times.