O FC Porto nos jornais ingleses

«the former AC Milan coach is entitled to a share of the credit for the way in which his team overcame a talented Porto side. (...)
Porto are a strong team who impressed in drawing 2-2 at Old Trafford in the quarter-final, first leg last season. Not until Fernando was sent off in the third minute of stoppage time, for a second bookable offence, did they accept that this would not be their night.
In that sense, this was probably the toughest match Chelsea have faced under Ancelotti. Porto are the antithesis of Stoke City, who were defeated on Saturday by a stoppage-time goal from Florent Malouda, but they are not a team to be taken lightly. (...)
With nine minutes remaining, Álvaro Pereira got behind Ivanovic and crossed to the edge of the penalty area, where Silvestre Varela, with a downward volley, forced Petr Cech into an awkward, scrambling save.»
The Times



«for the opening 45 minutes and the concluding 20, Porto demonstrated how they gave Manchester United a run for their money last season (...)
Porto almost gave him one or two as well on Tuesday night, most memorably in the form of the opportunities Hulk and Freddy Guarin would have converted had it not been for an excellent performance from Petr Cech. (...)
Too often Chelsea conceded possession cheaply and it was only because of their goalkeeper that they kept their noses in front. Porto unleashed 17 shots. (...)
Incredible is not a word one could normally associate with this particular Hulk but he was certainly impressive here, as much with his dribbling and passing as a blistering shot that forced Cech to make a desperate save with his knees. (...)
For Porto, however, time enough remained to hit back and how close they went to punishing Chelsea for squandering what chances they created for the remainder of a tense contest. (...)
Had it not been for Cech, Guarin and Silvestre Varela would have been celebrating a much-deserved equaliser. But Cech did his job»
Daily Mail



«the match approached its end with Petr Cech pulling off a good save from the substitute Silvestre Varela. Porto did not look wholly discouraged until the midfielder Fernando was sent off, for a second yellow card, in stoppage time. (...)
When Jesualdo Ferreira's side came to London a year ago, they were routed 4-0 by Arsenal, but considerable improvement followed.
Last night the team reminded you that they had run Manchester United very close in last season's quarter-final, when it took a goal from Cristiano Ronaldo at Estadio do Dragao to win the match. It would be pleasing to think that a side from Portugal could once more hold its own against clubs from wealthier nations. (...)
Porto, after four successive domestic titles, ought to have faith in themselves, but they were still prudent. Four of their new signings were named purely as substitutes, despite the fact that the Colombian striker Falcao had found his goal-scoring rhythm in the Portuguese League.
Ferreira's team did have a settled air and there was enterprise as well. They were ready to search for goal and Cech had to save well from Hulk early in the match. The striker has an unpredictability about him as well a sense of purpose. (...)
Ancelotti was right in his prediction that Porto would seek to attack whenever possible. There was a balance to the game. Although Chelsea did have a desire to assert themselves, they could not lay siege for long because Porto continually took their opportunities to break.
When the moments of crisis did come in the first half, the visitors reacted well.»
The Guardian


Sim, é verdade que o FC Porto perdeu mais uma vez em Inglaterra e que nenhum portista se satisfaz com vitórias morais. Mas, para quem ainda se lembra, comparem estas opiniões sobre a equipa de ontem, com aquilo que a imprensa inglesa escreveu há um ano atrás.

Nota: Os negritos são da minha responsabilidade.