André Villas-Boas was present, on the night of this Friday, at the Casa do FC Porto in Viseu, in a session in which he answered some questions from supporters and members of FC Porto. One of the topics of the conversation had to do with the discussion surrounding the location of the club's Academy, whether in Maia or Gaia.

The candidate for the presidency of FC Porto reacted to the latest controversy surrounding the plan presented by Pinto da Costa, which could be suspended before it has even begun, pointing out the risks of the project in Maia.

"We are already behind schedule and if we are subject to embargoes it will be even worse. FC Porto will spend seven million euros on earthworks. If there is no construction capacity later, why spend that amount? Unfortunately, it seems that everything is being accelerated to compromise the electoral act or future management. We cannot be subject again to deadlines that are similar to the academy proposed in 2016, in São Mamede de Infesta and Matosinhos, which later had no construction viability. If we again have impossibility of construction or construction delay in relation to Maia, potentially ours is the one that will make the most sense", said Villas-Boas, quoted by the newspaper O Jogo.

"I think it is good and valuable for FC Porto to have both options. This candidacy, if not elected, will easily give up all the projects that we have related to our high-performance centre to the other candidacy, so that it can analyse it in the same way and make a decision. We are already a few years behind schedule for the future. And if we are already a few years behind schedule for the future, in relation to our rivals, if we are still subject to embargoes, to the stoppage of construction, due to difficulties related to the approval of the works, it will be another problem", he continued.

"Since January, and in some other interventions, we have asked FC Porto not to accelerate processes and structuring businesses for its future, when it is a few days away from the elections, the reality is that we are simply completely ignored, just as all FC Porto members have been ignored over the years. Therefore, this is what hurts the hearts of the supporters", he added.

Villas-Boas also spoke about the changes he hopes to bring in the sports area and again spoke of a possible re-candidacy in 2018 if he is defeated in the present electoral act.

"In the sports area everything has to be reorganised, I will use my sports skills here. I have travelled the world as a professional coach, it is in the sports area that I will be intransigent, it is there that the future and sustainability of the club lies. Choosing a player for Porto is a responsibility towards the members, it cannot be a field to throw money away. I am sure that the sports director will be to your liking and that he will contribute to the growth of FC Porto", he stressed.

"If this president, whom I greatly admire and respect, is re-elected, our club will no longer be as we know it, because FC Porto is linking itself with certain people, anticipating revenue and giving consideration for this. Therefore, it is only in 2028 that we will be able to see how things will be, but I suspect that the scenario will be radically different", he stressed.

Read Also: FC Porto's reaction to the request for suspension of the Academy's works (Portuguese version)