In an editorial published in Dragões magazine, André Villas-Boas evaluated the start of 2026 from a sporting point of view and called for restraint in the fans’ euphoria, despite the very positive results. «On a competitive level, January brought us what defines great groups: the ability to suffer, to resist, to respond under pressure and to win in difficult contexts. The away victories against Santa Clara and Vitória de Guimarães, on two demanding pitches, were clear proof of maturity and character. They weren’t ‘easy’ games, nor could they be. These were games of determination, courage and fighting spirit, that DNA that others envy and that makes FC Porto never hide, never surrender and never abdicate. To this we added a triumph against Benfica in the Cup, which puts us in the semi-finals and opens the door for a decisive tie with Sporting CP or against AVS SAD”, he highlights.
He continued: «In the Europa League, the journey is being marked by a huge demonstration of our DNA. Plzeň was the mirror of that path, a game of a toughness that only immense desire could break. With Rangers, what started with adversity, turned into a game in which the entire team showed that they have arguments to reach the next stage with their ambition reinforced. But nothing is gained. The path ahead remains demanding. We will continue to fight for everything, against everything and against everyone: against strong opponents and in difficult contexts, against the charred and molded narrative of some ‘commentators’, who have little in the way of exemption, in the media, who long for our downfall, even going so far as to prevaricate with the honor of the athletes of the teams that face FC Porto and who dedicate hours to scrutinizing, in a ‘loop’ and with a magnifying glass, images looking for non-existent penalties against FC Porto, supported by former members of non-permanent refereeing committees of the Portuguese Football Federation who continue to intoxicate the referees’ work every weekend”, he says, adding: “For all this, February will be a decisive month in our journey, where unity around the team and its objectives is fundamental. It is because we are fully aware of this requirement that we operate in the market, strengthening the team according to the needs identified by the coach and the structure. The arrivals of Thiago Silva, Óscar Pietuszewski and Terem Moffi respond to a clear logic: quality, profile, character and usefulness for the project and our ambitions. And so, following a well-thought-out strategy, we continue to pay attention to what makes sense, always with the same matrix: financial responsibility and sporting ambition.”
«This future is also being built off the pitch, with the continued internationalization of FC Porto. It was with enthusiasm that we signed the cooperation protocol with FC Cincinnati, from MLS. A partner that represents a modern and demanding vision of football: professionalism, seriousness, quality of infrastructure, ability to develop players and, above all, a culture of sustained growth. For FC Porto, this partnership means opening doors and creating bridges in a strategic market such as the United States, bringing the Club closer to new audiences and consolidating our global presence. On the African continent, Portuguese-speaking countries in particular continue to be a priority and to be looked at with great attention. Along this path, FC Porto reinforced its expansion on this continent with the launch of Dragon Force Black Bulls Mozambique, in partnership with the Black Bulls Association. This project, which starts immediately, will focus on exporting our training methodology and identifying local talents with the potential to be integrated into high-performance programs, consolidating Mozambique as a territory of enormous strategic relevance, following similar openings in Zimbabwe and Cape Verde. And we won’t stop here. The next few weeks could bring important news for our expansion into Asia. Because FC Porto must increasingly be a Porto Club for the world, without ever losing its identity, without ever giving up its values, without ever forgetting where our strength comes from»
«A word about our eclecticism, which is an inseparable part of FC Porto’s identity. Our women’s volleyball team has had a very positive campaign and we want it to continue demonstrating its full capacity to give us back a title that eluded us last season. The support of Partners and Supporters has been fundamental and will continue to be decisive. In roller hockey, the change in the technical team brought a visible transformation: in the way of playing, in the confidence of the athletes and in collective quality. It is gratifying to see this evolution, game after game, and to salute the group for its recent results with the ambition of maintaining this growth in February and continuing to fight for the title with the same intensity that has always characterized us. In handball and basketball, the demands are total. We will do everything in our power to achieve the results we desire. We cannot give in on any of the fronts we are involved in and continue our commitment to victory until the end of the season. This is what FC Porto is: work, identity, courage. A Club that renews itself, that wins, that grows and that does not deviate from what is essential. Each game is an Arena. Each month is a chapter. And the next chapter is written with focus, with unity and with the usual ambition»
