Can Porto actually win the UEFA Champions League? http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vitor-c36281 Baia thinks so
Porto Legend Vitor Baia has claimed that the current Dragao side is capable enough of coping with the rigors of the UEFA Champions League and can win the ultimate European prize next year.
It would be déjà vu for the Portistas, as Jose Mourinho captured the UEFA Europa League (formerly known as UEFA cup) in 2003 and went on to win the UEFA Champions League the very next year by demolishing AS Monaco 3-0 in Gelsenkirchen.
The former Catalan said:
“The situations are different, the moment is also different, but this season nobody thought that http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Porto-c39186 would do what they did. I don’t see why they shouldn’t believe they can do it and they have to fight towards this aim.”
Andres Villas-Boas has been hailed as the new messiah of Porto and has led them to unprecedented success in his first season in charge, completing a rout of the Europa League, Portuguese League, Portuguese Super Cup and Portuguese Cup. The current crop of
players has really showed quality. The 7-2 (on aggregate) annihilation of Villarreal 7-2 in the Semi-finals of the Europa League is just one such example. Some of their outstanding players like http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Helton-c16018 have secured qualification to
the UEFA Champions League, but can the Portuguese Giants actually do the unthinkable?
Without a doubt, the greatest obstacle Porto will face will be in the form of the Current European Champions, Barcelona, a side which has been labeled as one of the greatest side in the history of Football. Boasting the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Skills-c40539 of Messi combined with the
vision of Iniesta and Xavi, the team is nearly unstoppable. The team from Catalonia has had a consistent flurry of silverware under former midfielder, Joseph “Pep” Guardiola, and stopping them next season would require the credentials of Porto and Villas Boas
combined.
With Barca winning the UEFA Champions League at Wembley and Porto regaining the Europa League, both teams have setup an Interesting UEFA Super Cup. Although most pundits would fancy Barcelona after they cruised past Manchester United in London, ruling out
Porto could prove unwise.
The former Barcelona and Porto man, Baia, will be at crossroads on whom to support when the two sides clash on August 26.
“I want FC Porto to win, naturally, but I won’t be too sad if, for some reason, FC Porto don’t win it on this occasion,” said the former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Portugal-c2984 goalkeeper.
The Porto Legend help the club win 27 trophies, and had two stints with the club sandwiched between a spell with Barcelona. He was awarded the UEFA Best goalkeeper award in 2004, while he made 80 caps for the Selecao.
Tags: