Bettor.com analyzes whether Lucho Gonzalez’s return to Porto can be the inspiration for the club to around their woeful campaign or whether he ends up tarnishing his legendary status at the helm.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Porto-c39186’s fall from the highest echelons of football in the past year has been meteoric to say the least. Out of the UEFA Champions League and the Portuguese Cup, as well as being five points adrift of Benfica in the Primeira Liga, it is truly hard to believe
that this team conquered an unprecedented four competitions last season.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Hulk-c16436 and the situation they now find themselves in is a glaring example of that.
Fredy Guarin was as impressive as ever during the run-in last term, but a lack of game time and confidence saw him spend most of his time on the bench, after which he was subsequently shipped off to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fernando-Belluschi-c13628.
The center of the park may not be the ideal place to generate all the headlines, but it is certainly where matches and more importantly, whole seasons are decided. Without a top notch midfielder, the attackers don’t get enough of the ball, get frustrated
and eventually fizzle out.
FC Porto were suffering from the same conundrum for the better of the campaign, but a little stroke of luck has changed their fortunes for the better.
Lucho Gonzalez, affectionately known as ‘El Comandante’ to the Portista faithful, decided to make a sensational return to Estadio do Dragao after falling out of favour at Marseille.
His rejoining the Dragao made sense on paper and more importantly, it has provided the club the necessary bite and determination to get through games, in which things simply aren’t going their way.
Often at times, Porto have failed to conquer the opposition with their attacking brand of football and when their strategy backfires, they are usually left empty handed when the final whistle blows. Gonzalez’s return to the helm could certainly change that
and provide that grit which Vitor Pereira has so desperately been craving all season.
A player who leads by example and has a proven track record at the highest level, the Argentine is capable of pulling strings from midfield and can even score a screamer or two on occasion.
He demonstrated his abilities perfectly in the League Cup, where his every touch was hailed by cheers from the supporters. A failed Vitoria Setubal clearance fell to the Sky Blue International and with pin point accuracy; he curled the ball effortlessly
into the top corner.
A 2nd debut capped with a goal and a vintage performance. No wonder http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vitor-c36281 Pereira was ecstatic at the proposition of Gonzalez and Joao Moutinho playing a central role in his plans.
However one fine display will not be able to rescue Porto and guide them to silverware in a sort span of time.
The club are currently playing in two competitions, namely the UEFA Europa League and the League Cup, while the bread and butter of the league remains. But Benfica are way ahead of their fierce rivals in that avenue and there is no way the Eagles can be
caught unless there is major slump in their form.
So bearing in mind the competitiveness of Europa League, Porto’s sole chance of a trophy is in the League Cup this time. And luckily for them, the Commander has a very well documented history of winning the tournament on more than one occasion.
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