Football Season Guide

Three seasons without league titles and specially last season’s disastrous campaign in the league and all the other competitions (losing the Cup final to SC Braga was the best they could do) will absolutely mean no margin for error in this next season. Supporters won’t forgive any more mistakes and should the season be even half as bad as last one, they will start asking questions not only to the coach but to the board as well. To try and bring some titles back to Dragão, FC Porto brought a new coach: Nuno Espírito Santo. The former Porto goalkeeper and Valência head coach will assume the challenge. There has been some speculation about Brahimi leaving the club. The Algerian didn’t have the best of seasons last year and might be searching for a change. Should he leave, he will be the only important departure in the squad (honourable mention to support goalkeeper Helton, who is leaving after eleven seasons in Blue and White). As for signings, one can notice the focus on defenders, with Brazilians Alex Telles and Felipe being the first significant new faces to arrive. Alex should give a left-footed option for the left full-back position, while Felipe should be an unquestionable option in the centre. Question is who will team up with him: will Marcano continue in the starting eleven despite some less convincing performances last year? Or will FC Porto be signing another centre-back. Just like last year, there are some rumours about Oliver Torres rejoining Porto, after not convincing Diego Simeone at Atlético Madrid. The super talented midfielder would mean a huge boost in the otherwise creativeless Porto midfield. Braga’s Rafa is also being linked with Porto. It is expected that the team from Invicta would have at least a couple more significant signings during August. Besides a centre-half and a creative midfielder, perhaps a striker would be needed too, since Aboubakar didn’t have the expected season (specially in the second half), and maybe André Silva is still too much of a promising player to be given the role of number one option in such an important position in the field.