PORTUGAL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Porto prepare for an all Portuguese Europa League final against Braga in Dublin while coach Andre Villas-Boas says he will stay with the club

Record ID: 1547591

  • Title: PORTUGAL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Porto prepare for an all Portuguese Europa League final against Braga in Dublin while coach Andre Villas-Boas says he will stay with the club
  • Date: 12th May 2011
  • Summary: GAIA, PORTUGAL (MAY 11, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FC PORTO PLAYERS IN TRAINING COACH ANDRE VILLAS BOAS WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) FC PORTO COACH ANDRE VILLAS BOAS SAYING: "I don't think this news conference is aimed at discussing the future, the futures of both coaches, he (Domingos Paciencia) chose to speak about it, very well. My future, as you know, is completely linked to Porto." PORTO PLAYERS TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FC PORTO COACH ANDRE VILLAS BOAS SAYING: "It is going to be a one off game, I mean finals are like that, you can approach them in various ways. Being the first Portuguese final it brings something special to the game. Both teams know each other very well but anything can happen in the game. I think it has nothing to do with what happened in the league, because leagues are completely different, and it's a challenge that is very difficult for us." PORTO FORWARD RADAMEL FALCAO IN TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FC PORTO FORWARD RADAMEL FALCAO SAYING: "Both teams have the same chances, I think Braga is a great team, which has a lot of merit in being in this final. Porto has to focus on what we will do but I don't think either of the teams are favourites." FALCAO IN TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FC PORTO FORWARD RADAMEL FALCAO SAYING: "I have two more years on the contract with the club and if I am saying goodbye, it's only for this season. But on June 30 I will be training again. In my mind, I am only thinking of winning these two competitions we have ahead." VARIOUS OF PORTO PLAYERS TRAINING PORTO FORWARD HULK IN TRAINING, CHIPPING BALL INTO GOAL (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) FC PORTO FORWARD HULK SAYING: "I will not face this match as the last match, I still have three years on the contract with Porto. It will be an unprecedented final, for us it's an important European title that could stay in all the players histories and the club as well, so we will focus our best to win this title." VARIOUS OF PORTO PLAYERS TRAINING
  • Embargoed: 27th May 2011 03:28
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Portugal, Portugal
  • Country: Portugal
  • Topics: Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVAAJF926262YURBYFI46PNBXBYW
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Porto coach Andre Villas Boas said on Wednesday (May 11) that he will stay at the club next season, denying media reports he would move to England or Italy after a successful first season with the Portuguese champions.
    "My future, as you know, is completely linked to Porto," he told a news conference, adding he did not know of any official interest from other clubs.
    Media reports had linked the coach with jobs at Chelsea and Liverpool in the Premier League and Juventus and Roma in Serie A.
    The 33-year-old led Porto to the Portuguese title last month and his side are one match away from completing the league season undefeated.
    They face Braga in the Europa League final next week and are also in the Portuguese Cup final.
    Colombian striker Radamel Falcao's profile has likewise increased with every goal he has scored, breaking Jurgen Klinsmann's 15-year old record by scoring 17 goals in a single UEFA club tournament this season.
    The worry for Porto fans is that the transfer-rumour machine has linked Falcao with nearly all of Europe's top clubs and past experience has shown it is almost impossible to resist when the likes of Real Madrid come calling.
    Falcao, who also hopes to help Colombia win the Copa America in Argentina in July, said that he would stay with Porto for another two years, especially as Porto have already qualified for next season's Champions League.
    "If I am saying goodbye, it's only for this season. But on June 30 I will be training again. In my mind, I am only thinking of winning these two competitions we have ahead," Falcao told reporters.
    Transfer speculation has also surrounded Hulk, top scorer in the Portuguese league with 23 goals, centre back Rolando and midfielder Fernando among others.
    "I still have three years on the contract with Porto" Hulk said.
    Braga and Porto are only 50 kilometres (31 miles) apart and never before have two clubs of such proximity locked horns with a major European title at stake.
    "Being the first Portuguese final, it brings something special to the game," Villas Boas said.
    Most observers consider Porto favourites, but Falcao described Braga as a great team with "a lot of merit" in getting to the final.
    "Porto has to focus on what we will do but I don't think either of the teams are favourites," he said.
    Villas Boas likewise said the challenge would not be an easy one.
    "Both teams know each other very well but anything can happen in the game. I think it has nothing to do with what happened in the league, because leagues are completely different, and it's a challenge that is very difficult for us," he said.
    Braga beat Sevilla and Celtic to reach the Champions League group stage, where they posted wins against Arsenal and Partizan Belgrade before dropping into the Europa League. They then knocked out former European champions Liverpool and Benfica amongst others to reach the final.
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