Porto FC head coach Vitor Bruno has invited Erik ten Hag to share a glass of wine after Thursday’s Europa League assembly as he supplied his understanding to a fellow head coach below scrutiny.
Ten Hag’s place as United boss got here below additional strain following a 3-0 house defeat towards Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, his aspect’s second successive Premier League loss at Old Trafford of such nature after September’s defeat to Liverpool.
Bruno, in the meantime, was the topic of messages written in black ink on the partitions close to the Dragao Stadium on Tuesday calling for his sacking and the return of former supervisor Sergio Conceicao. Newly elected Porto president Andre Villas-Boas promoted Bruno from assistant to move coach this summer season following the long-serving Conceicao’s departure.
“I am too (under scrutiny),” Bruno interjected. “Everyone is.”
When requested if he had sympathy for the United supervisor, Bruno mentioned: “I don’t know him, I haven’t met him yet but I’d love to. There is a coach in Portugal called Carlos Carvalhal, now he is in Braga. He worked in the Premier League and the Championship (with Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea City). He said at the end of the match, they go together, drink a glass of wine.
“If Ten Hag wants tomorrow, the dressing room is open for him. A lot of respect. It’s our life. Mine also.
“I don’t know if you know all the news in Portugal but once you lose one match, you are almost dead.”
Porto host United on the Dragao Stadium within the second spherical of the Europa League ‘league phase’ on Thursday. Both groups are wanting for their first win within the competitors after United drew 1-1 with FC Twente at Old Trafford final week whereas Porto misplaced to 10-man Bodo/Glimt 3-2.
Despite successful simply two of their final seven in all competitions, Bruno has maintained that Manchester United are all the time a “threat”.
Asked whether or not this is the very best time to play United, Bruno mentioned: “Exactly the opposite. We always see them as a threat, not as a good point to take them on. We just have to be ourselves and have to look at them with respect, a lot of respect, a lot of individuals, as a team also performing… I know what you mean talking about their last match, but we must see the old (results and performances), not (just) this one.”
A win for both aspect within the new look Europa League competitors may show essential to progressing to the knockout levels.
(Miguel Riopa/AFP by way of Getty Images)
