Pinto da Costa took over on Tuesday, in an interview with SIC, who admires the leader of the Super Dragões, Fernando Madureira.
“I am friends with who I am, I know who I count on. I do not have a special friendship with Fernando Madureira, he is not my everyday partner. I have a good relationship, I admire him, because he has graduated, he has his course completed”he declared, dismissing André Villas-Boas’s claim about a praetorian guard at FC Porto.
“What exists at FC Porto and what they are talking about is a fan base, which exhibits the same behavior as, because you said it, when André Villas-Boas was the coach of FC Porto. And the coaches and players will always be the cheering greet.” the end of the games. So at that point it wasn’t a Praetorian Guard? The Super Dragões have been attacked. Outside the games they are just like the others, they have the same rights”he emphasized.
“The relationship between my management and any management with a fan base is normal. First of all, in matches outside FC Porto we always played alone, when the fan base was not there. Against the rest. But an employee was intimidated in FC Porto matches? “I don’t know anyone who has complained. What I can guarantee you is that so far, in all views of events, there is no Super Dragão.”he added, about the lack of respect in the dragons’ General Assembly.
Pinto da Costa also admitted that it was “very unpleasant” to see “partners against members” in the stands of the Dragão Arena. “What I have to say is what everyone feels. It was a very unpleasant moment, a very bad moment. Seeing partners against partners… I have to regret everything that happened and we have already taken all measures to ensure that to make sure this doesn’t happen.” happening again”he stated, claiming that on social media “there was talk of incitement” for people to come in groups, stand in corners and film everything they could.
“I’m not going to say that they are primarily responsible, because I would anticipate the investigations. There were factors, through social media there was an incentive for people to get in groups, stand in corners and film everything they could. I didn’t understand the meaning, down here [no Dragão] The problem was that there were too many people. We had an alternative here, plan C [pavilhão] it only then appeared. There was an abnormal turnout and we had to go to the pavilion, which was a last resort”he added.
Regarding André Villas-Boas, he admits that he has spoken to the former FC Porto coach “about three times” since José Mourinho’s former assistant coached the Dragons and admitted to being “admired” and “surprised”. ‘One to deliver the Golden Dragon. He already offered me a watch, which is actually quite nice… The last time I saw him was at a bad time, at Fernando Gomes’ funeral. I’ve never seen him since. I don’t respond [às declarações dele]. He’s the one who knows. I’m surprised, but I won’t comment. I assume that the intention is to run for president of FC Porto, you have every right to do so. I assume you have quotas in days. But I don’t want to comment. I won’t say it hurts. I’m surprised, now it hurts when someone dear to us dies. I’m surprised, but I won’t comment. You have the right like any member with up to date quota”he claimed.
Regarding SAD Porto’s accounts, Pinto da Costa says that they would be “in balance” if the sale of Otávio to Al Nassr for 60 million euros had been completed earlier and emphasizes that the “objective is also sporting”. “The others sold players, made money, how many points do they have in the Champions League? Zero. We are one win away from participating in the round of 16 of the Champions League. That’s why we didn’t sell players who wanted to buy us.” , different… And we didn’t sell them”he emphasized, joking at rival Benfica.
Still, it justified the negative equity. “The fees have increased a lot since 2015. Players nowadays earn much more, it is a terrible difference. There is more and more competition, now with the Arab world. For us that is not a problem. In December our own capital will be “, if not positive, very close. What is important to me is that Sérgio Conceição has had ten titles in the museum since his arrival. Members who go to the museum will see the cups, not the capital letters that are negative. This is a throwing weapon. We were in financial fair play and that is no longer the case. We were able to present this loss in consultation with UEFA, they know what our plans are until the end of the year. At the end of the year we have to give the accounts to UEFA. Our guess is that we preferred the sporty aspect. Of course checked, so that when we had to present accounts to UEFA in December, we presented positive accounts”he declared, admitting that the electoral process is hampering the renewal of Sérgio Conceição.
“Do you think that someone who works at a club like FC Porto, whether it is a coach or a lawyer, will renew without knowing who will manage it? I would not sign it. I just ask if someone who has a contract ends after my mandate. Would you like to sign? I wouldn’t sign, he doesn’t know. Dr. Nuno Lobo, the only candidate, should contact Sérgio Conceição and ask if he is willing to renew if he is the president.”he claimed.
Source: DN
