04/12/03 Pimenta Machado, president of Vitória de Guimarães, third from bottom of the SuperLiga, gives his coach Augusto Inácio a last chance versus Rio Ave this weekend:
"I'm going to place my trust in Inácio once again ... but everything has its limits." 18/11/03 Customer:
"Pauleta says he doesn't understand why the spectators started whistling the National Team after five minutes."
Barber: "They were probably distracted for the first five."
(Cartoon strip
Barba e Cabelo, A Bola) 16/11/03 National coach Felipe Scolari, needing work on his diplomacy: Journalist: "I'm not from Porto, I'm from Lisbon." Scolari: "Thank God for that."
10/11/03 Vitória de Guimarães coach Augusto Inácio continues to blame the referees for his team's ills. Vitória are currently third from bottom: "We should be second." 16/10/03 União de
Leiria president João Bartolomeu casts doubts on the impartiality of the Hungarian match officials, presented with gifts by the hosts Molde of Norway, who beat UDL in the UEFA Cup: "I don't know what they got, but I
saw the bags!" 06/10/03 Benfica coach António Camacho gives his spin on the growing contestation of the refereeing in Portugal: "It would be ridiculous to defend myself or the interests of
Benfica by criticising the work of the referees - that would really be something out of the third world." 03/10/03 Vitória de Guimarães president Pimenta Machado on the state of
things after his side lost their fifth successive league game Saturday, at home to FC Porto. Vitória had a good goal disallowed: "We're on the brink of Euro 2004 and we have one of the most disgraceful championships
in Europe." 30/09/03 Vitória de Guimarães coach Augusto Ignácio, asked if he's 'sleeping on hot coals' after five straight defeats: "I sleep in a soft bed." 26/09/03
Candidate for the Benfica presidency Jaime Antunes responds to current president Manuel Vilarinho, who implied that the team were a bunch of "burros" - donkeys - after the 1-1 draw at La Louviére of Belgium in the UEFA
Cup: "Benfica is not a zoo!" 19/09/03 FC Porto president Pinto da Costa on Benni McCarthy's two-match ban for an aggression on Sporting's Beto: "We were expecting McCarthy to be suspended for 20
games and be arrested. In the end he only got two games, 10% of what we expected, and he's still free." 12/09/03 Mallorca's Portuguese coach, Jaime Pacheco, as outspoken as ever: "Players are like
children, and sometimes you have to treat them like that to get them to react." 10/09/03 Benfica hard-man Fernando Aguiar tenders approximation to fellow hard-man, team-mate Petit, after a bust-up in
training: "We're friends and room-mates. We're going to have dinner ... and he's paying!" 08/09/03 National team coach Felipe Scolari admits the poverty of Portugal's play versus Spain: "There were
only a few handkerchiefs being waved. There should have been more." 07/09/03 UEFA Inspector Ernie Walker on the work done to complete the ten EURO 2004 stadiums:
"What's happening in Portugal is a miracle!" 02/09/03 FC Porto coach José Mourinho takes an early opportunity to split hairs: "I never said we'd be champions again ... but I think we will be."
13/08/03 Boavista's new coach Erwin Sanchez tries a quip to play down the club's shakey pre-season: two goals scored in eight games, one from a penalty: "Maybe the players are saving themselves for the
Championship" 08/08/03 Sérgio Conceição gets cryptic as to the reason for choosing his shirt number for new club Lázio: "I'll explain why I chose 53 when I leave the club." 24/07/03
Boavista president João Loureiro, annoyed at a perceived lack of cooperation on the part of the authorities, this time the Oporto City Council: "We're fed up of Boavista being the ugly ducklings of EURO 2004."
23/07/03 Sporting's new signing, ´keeper Ricardo, on his move from Boavista to a Grande: "This is one of the happiest days of my life - after the birth of my son." 22/07/03 FC Porto's Brazilian/Portuguese midfielder Deco on the prospect of spending another season at the Portuguese club: "We all know that Portuguese football doesn't have the
dimension of other championships .. not FC Porto, because fortunately I'm in a club that's managed to show its worth in Europe ... It's not a question of wanting to leave FC Porto ... I have a contract with this club
and I'm fine here ... but I'm not going to say that I'm indifferent [to the interest of Barcelona and Real Madrid] ... I want to prove myself in another championship - if I spend my whole life at Porto, even if I play
well, people are going to say that I didn't prove my worth in European or World terms, but only in Portuguese football ... and I want to grow as a player outside Portugal. That's an ambition I have ... I'd like to
leave, but I don't want to create trouble, nor demand a transfer ... that's not my way of doing things ... I'm not going to create conflict in a club that's given me everything and that I respect very much."
08/07/03 Former Benfica president João Vale e Azevedo, still in custody awaiting trial on charges of embezzlement while he was in the top post at the Luz: "If it hadn't been for me, Benfica would
have had to close its doors" 27/06/03 Former Boavista 'keeper Ricardo, possibly heading for Benfica. He occasionally takes penalties: "Scoring goals is like an orgasm; it's total ecstasy."
26/06/03 Sporting president Dias da Cunha on plans by the Liga to allow clubs to postpone the submission of proof that their tax and social security payments are up to date:
"It's a veritable scandal! A disgrace!" 29/05/03 José Couceiro, coach of Alverca, newly promoted to the SuperLiga, has a moan about lack of support for his team:
"Five or six fans travel to away games ... and four of them are family! ..." 26/05/03 Sporting's Mário Jardel after Sporting's 3-4 home defeat to bottom club Vitória de Setúbal: "I've done a lot of
wrong things this year ... I apologise to everyone." 18/05/03 Boavista coach Jaime Pacheco, soon to leave the club, suggests that he wouldn't mind succeeding Camacho, whose negotiations with Benfica have
stalled over money: "I'd do it cheaper..." 15/05/03 Sporting coach Laszlo Bölöni, on his way out, maintains a diplomatic stance to the end: "In general, Portuguese football is third rate."
10/05/03 Boavista coach Jaime Pacheco, continually asked if he is going to leave Boavista: "I think of Boavista as I think of my mother." 06/05/03 The SportTV commentator on hearing
the half-time whistle after a dire first half between Marítimo and Boavista in Funchal: "Thank God for that!" (The second half wasn't much better). 03/05/03
Sporting coach Laszlo Bölöni, angry at the time it took the Liga to send notification of Mario Jardel's suspension, meaning he will miss the Benfica-Sporting derby: "Even a donkey wouldn't take as long to get
from Porto to Lisbon as this news." 28/04/03 Sports Minister José Luis Arnaut on the first official day of sales of EURO 2004 tickets: "From the information we have, I think we'll be able to sell
between 85 and 90% of the tickets, But we're confident that we'll be able to do even better." 27/04/03 The cartoon strip Barba e cabelo in A Bola: "The fact that Porto's opponents are
Celtic opens up a good chance of victory in the UEFA Cup ... if they have the same kit as Sporting, maybe they'll play like Sporting." 24/04/03 FC Porto's resident artist Deco on whether the threat of a
yellow and exclusion from the UEFA Fup Final will make him hold back in the second leg of the Semi: "If I have to commit a foul that stops Lázio winning and going to the final, I'll do it, certainly." 22/04/03
Sporting's Ricardo Sá Pinto on his return to the Sporting side after a long lay-off through injury. He scored a penalty against Marítimo: "You know that I'm not narcissistic or egocentric, but I dedicate
this goal to me - only I know what I've been through." 17/04/03 Benfica's Slovenian midfielder Zlatko Zahovic, responding to rumours about a possible move at the end of the season, touts for
popularity from Benfiquistas: "To be in Benfica or another club is the same thing." 15/04/03 Bilro, scorer of União de Leiria's winner against Paços de Ferreira in the Taça semi-final:
"This was a gift from God." 14/04/03 The Socialist Party get shirty about the name of the Euro 2004 mascot: Kinas, instead of Quinas. "It tramples on the dignity of the Portuguese language and
national symbols." 11/04/03 Manuel Correia, coach of cash-strapped Segunda club Felgueiras, on living with several months' salary overdue: "It's not nice to start a training session with
court officials and bailiffs at the gate" 09/04/03 The Sporting Board come out in defence of Laszlo Bölöni, under increasing fire over the team's disappointing results: "We can't sit back and watch the
public lynching of a competent, honest and hard-working coach." 07/04/03 Vitória de Setúbal coach Diamantino Miranda. "Playing with 15 or 16 against FC Porto is difficult. Playing with ten for more
than an hour is even more difficult." 05/04/03 The president of the Associação de Futebol de Porto, Adriano Pinto: "The majority of Portuguese clubs are on their way to banruptcy" 04/04/03
Sporting president Dias da Cunha quotes a Portuguese saying as a response to Benfica SAD president Luís Filipe Vieira in their recent war-of-words: "The braying of donkeys doesn't reach heaven." 31/03/03
Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira after Portugal 2-1 Brazil: "It was like Portugal were playing in the final of the World Cup." 30/03/03 The Barba e Cabelo comic strip in A Bola
: "Deco's adaptation to the Selecção
is almost complete ... he's speaking to his teammates, he's got to know the flag and the national anthem ... he just needs to start negotiating match bonuses to be 100% Portguese" 29/03/03
Brazilian 'keeper Marcos Reis: "Scolari is going to set the Portuguese Selecção alight' 28/03/03 Real's Director of Football Jorge Valdano on rumours that Luís Figo could be exchanged for David
Beckham: "The chance of Figo leaving Real Madrid is not remote ... it's impossible." 27/03/03 FPF President Gilberto Madaíl, defending the possibility that newly-naturalised midfielder Deco can love
two countries at the same time: "A country is not like women, clubs or political parties." 26/03/03 Farense's goalkeeping coach Luís Manuel touches on the financial crisis facing the Segunda
club: "I'm owed 15 months' salary." 25/03/03 Vitória de Setúbal central defender Hugo Alcântara careful not to mince his words after his team's 0-2 reverse at home to Moreirenese: "Vitória's fans
are right to protest. The team is a disgrace. We're a disgrace." 22/03/03 Benfica Coach José Camacho rouses his troops for the last match at the Luz, won 1-0 over Santa
Clara: "The history of the club was made by other players, and these can now also be a part of it, if they win the last game in this stadium." 16/03/03 Well, Pelé should know ...:
"Eusébio is eternal." 15/03/03 National Team coach Felipe Scolari gets tough after rumblings in the camp about the possible inclusion of 'Brazilian' Deco in the squad: "I'm the one who gives the
orders. Whoever wants to play, plays; if they don't, there's the door." 14/03/03 FC Porto coach José Mourinho after his side lost 0-1 to Panathinaikos: "We lost, but we left the pitch to a standing
ovation. That's fantastic!" 13/03/03 Boavista president João Loureiro gets behind his man: "Jaime Pacheco has said that he'll be the coach of Boavista for as long as I want him to be, ... I say
he'll be the coach of Boavista for as long as he wants to be." 01/03/03 Eusébio, Red Cross ambassador, looks forward to meeting the kids of East Timor:
"I'll be like a kind of grandfather who's going to play with them a bit." 28/02/03 Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission accompanying the Euro 2004 preparations, suddenly getting worried about access
to Benfica's new Luz Stadium: "At this moment, we need to break the national sprint record to get the protocol signed, the bids for the job in and the work finished in time for the start of the Championship, which is
going to be very, very difficult." 25/02/03 FPF president Gilberto Madaíl reassures the Portuguese about the future 'purity' of the Selecção: "Deco is an exception; Portugal will not be Brazil's
'B' Team." 24/02/03 Sporting coach Laszlo Bölöni gets fed up with journalists asking about the renewal, or not, of his contract beyond the end of the season: "Leave me alone!" 20/02/03
Boavista coach Jaime Pacheco comes over all enigmatic after his team's 2-3 defeat to Hertha: "At the right time, I'll tell all." 19/02/03 António Mexia, chairman of the Executive Committee of
Galp, Euro 2004's new sponsor, hopes for the impossible: "I hope the final's between Portugal and Spain ... or Portugal and Brazil." 18/02/03
Benfica coach José Camacho, asked about his plans for next season: "I wasn't born here and I'm not going to die here." 17/02/03 FC Porto's captain Jorge Costa's defence of his slap on Benfica's Simão,
for which he earned a two-match ban: "If I'd wanted to hurt him, I would have done it with my foot or my fist." 13/02/03 Portugal's
Brazilian coach Felipe Scolari finds an optimistic angle after Wednesday's 0-1 defeat at the hands of the Italians: "I started off with a 1-0 defeat for Brazil as well, and I ended up World Champion."
12/02/03 FPF president Gilberto Madaíl tries to play down rumours of unrest over money in the National Team camp: "I don't believe that
any player who represents his country ... can be at all worried about any bonus due." 11/02/03 Manuel Pinto Coelho, one of the players' doctors, suggesting that the Brazilian striker, in a
spot of disciplinary trouble with his club Sporting yet again, is human after all: "Mário Jardel is not a robot!" 07/02/03 FC Porto coach José Mourinho backs, belatedly and fruitlessly, the inclusion
of Vítor Baía in Scolari's first National Squad: "Vítor is by far the best goalkeeper in Portugal." 06/02/03 Lisbon Mayor Pedro Santana Lopes on the late start to the promotional campaign for next
year's tournament, to be held in Portugal: "I think it's surreal what's happened with the promotion of Euro 2004 ... but c'est le Portugal." 05/02/03 Belenenses' new coach Manuel José on Marinho
Peres, who resigned from the club two weeks ago: "He's one of my best friends - he always finds me work." 04/02/03 Cartoon strip Barba e Cabelo - 'Beard and Hair'- in A Bola
after Benfica drop two points at home to Moreirense: Customer: "Could it be that Benfica aren't being helped by the 'Camacho Effect' any more?" Barber: "Well, I don't know ... I'd say that Camacho is starting
to come under the influence of the 'Benfica Effect'." 03/02/03 SuperLiga president Valentim Loureiro appeals for Portuguese football to be taken seriously:
"... football is an excellent factor of economic and social development that projects Portugal and Portuguese culture internationally." 02/02/03 Mário Jardel, with a hat-trick at the weekend and six
goals to his credit, gets optimistic. There are just 15 games left: "Can I score as many as last season? It's difficult to get to 42 but not impossible." 01/03/03
Boavista coach Jaime Pacheco bemoans his bad luck re injuries: "All I need now is for a player to report in pregnant." 28/01/03 FC Porto coach José Mourinho feels for the 40,000 that had to sit through
the FCP v Boavista derby: "Poor people!" 27/01/03 FC Porto coach José Mourinho explains his attitude to Boavista coach Jaime Pacheco after the FCP v Boavista derby. Both coaches had exchanged words in
the week running up to the game: "I don't shake hands with people I don't know." 24/01/03 Banner unfurled by the Benfica claque Os Diabos Vermelhos
at the Benfica v Ajax friendly. The club's Slovenian midfielder apparently said something incriminating on last weekend's trip to Marítimo. The answer to come at the next home match:
"Do you know what Zahovic said about Benfica?" 23/01/03 Portuguese referee Paulo Paraty hints that a referees' strike is a possibility:
"Perhaps if people have a weekend without football, they'll have a chance to reflect a little..." 22/03/01 Benfica coach José Camacho learns fast: "Benfica is the club that has the most admirers
... and the club that has the most enemies." 21/01/03 Parma's Brazilian full-back Júnior, a possible reinforcement for Benfica, speaking of the new Portuguese national coach:
"Scolari is like a father to me." 20/01/03 Vitória de Setúbal coach Luis Campos, critical of the referee after the Boavista 1-0 Setúbal result:
"Portuguese football is garbage ... The stadiums are empty because people don't believe in our football." 16/01/03 Minister of Sport José Luis Arnaut, not completely satisfied with how Euro 2004 is
being organised: "I have to admit that there's been some difficulty in having a dialogue with UEFA [over Euro 2004]." 14/01/03 FC Porto react to the police charge on their fans after the Sporting v FC
Porto match: "The panic generated by the heavy-handed intervention of the police could have caused another Heysel, in the country which is going to stage Euro 2004." 13/01/03 Benfica president Luis
Filipe Vieira laments the circumstances of Vitória de Guimarães v Benfica: "I'm deeply concerned ... that a game between second and third in the table should be surrounded by an atmosphere from the third
world." |
