FERNANDO VELVET/LUSA
From Ribeira to Aliados, where Pedro Abrunhosa finished, thousands celebrated before and after a last triumph for the blue and whites, at Dragão, against Santa Clara (1 to 0).
Thousands of people They filled Ribeira, in Porto, this Saturday, to receive one of the stages of the consecration of the new Portuguese football champions, in a party that started even before the consecration game started at Dragão.
The long wait ended around 10pm, coinciding with the arrival by river of the delegation, announced with fireworks and a luminous drone showwhich were forming images.
In the already starry sky of Invicta, a dragon was formed, later replaced by the number two shirt (worn by the failed Jorge Costa), the symbol of FC Porto and ended with the phrase “We continue together”.
With both banks full and the river full of boats, captain Diogo Costa greeted the fans from the boat, thanking them for all their support. “Thank you for believing in us”, said the Portuguese international, before announcing that “the champion is back”.
Many hours before, the game against Santa Clara (1-0) had not yet started and Ribeira, as well as all access points, were practically impassable, leaving no one indifferent. The life of this area, normally thanks to tourists, gained new protagonists, with hundreds of fans, a number that quickly reached thousands, proudly displaying FC Porto shirts, from various eras and different shades, and other decorations in blue and white.
The windows and balconies were decorated with flags and scarves, larger flags accompanied the profile of the different staircases and the increasing honking of those arriving mixed with those of those trying to find the best place to watch the new champions pass by.
“For him and Jorge Costa”
Caught in this early São João, two young English couples, from Leeds, occupied a privileged area on a terrace overlooking Ribeira. They were more talkative and extroverted than them, more surprised and attentive to the growing buzz, confessing to having already heard about the champions’ party, which preceded a raising of glasses in the air and a not-so-shy “Porto!’.
They promised to stay there and watch the party at Aliados afterwards, with the clear feeling that, at that moment, at that hour, almost everything would be a reason for a new toast and another of many rounds, judging by the full table.
A few meters below, in the center of Ribeira, close to the Cubo and the terraces that have since been removed as recommended by the forces of order, Filomena Carvalho, tripeira de gema, was the mirror of those who feel differently about the celebration of a title that, for the first time, passed on their doorstep.
“I don’t even know how to explain this most beautiful thing. People sometimes have the wrong idea about Ribeira, but we are welcoming people, and being able to celebrate our club’s triumph on our doorstep, there are no words”, said the 51-year-old fan. His eyes shone even brighter when he remembered the visit of the failed president Pinto da Costa to Ribeira last season, despite the absence of a party.
“This is also for him and Jorge Costa, who deserved this and to be here. I also can’t forget the current mayor, for giving us this great and well-deserved party”, he added, sharing the merits of the 31st title among the entire working group.
FC Porto won the last game, but the outcome almost passed by many of those who were tuning their voices and rehearsing dances and choreographies, in an increasingly noisy but somewhat scattered party.
Everything changed as soon as the entertainment moved to the sound board, on the improvised stage, focusing the attention of those present, those who began to perform on the other bank, at the Vila Nova de Gaia pier, and also many of those who crossed the river in different boats. Meanwhile, the screen, behind the entertainer on duty, showed images of the beginning of the party at Dragão, reaching its high point when the delegation arrived at the Ribeira pier.
About half an hour later, with the day saying goodbye to the city, illuminated as in São João, it is time to say: “This is the Port of all boats / The crazy people arrive, they leave enchanted / And it is because of you that the Douro sings the fados / Come and meet me at Aliados”.
The Porto delegation followed the schedule and continued, in an electric trio, towards Avenida, almost as if on cue. Pedro Abrunhosawhere thousands of fans wait to celebrate the best 31 in FC Porto’s history.
“Main pieces” to maintain, squad to renew
The president of FC Porto stated that he intends “keep the main pieces” of the team in the 2026/27 season, but defended the obligation to renew the players and “recreate” the squad to guarantee financial sustainability.
“The objective is to keep the main pieces, of course. They were all decisive in winning this title, but it is always necessary to renewrecreate and continue the economic sustainability of this club for the future”, said André Villas-Boas, to Sport TV, at Estádio do Dragão, after the victory against Santa Clara.
Villas-Boas acknowledged that the ‘blues and whites’ will form a “significant part of money” with direct qualification for the Champions League, but warned that the club’s “responsibilities” “are enormous”.
“We must work on the market and renew teams. That’s the difficulty. There is a base built, but we have to make this club sustainable and We must move in the market and renew ourselves year after year”, he reinforced.
Regarding winning the title, Villas-Boas considered that the ‘dragons’ “can no longer let go of their position” as the winning club in Portugal.
“It’s about seizing this opportunity. It’s done. Another one follows. FC Porto can’t let go of this position anymore. Now it’s about building a more solid sporting, economic and associative future. The associative transformation of this club has been unbelievable.”
Porto’s president praised coach Francesco Farioli’s management, highlighting the group’s “cohesion and belief” throughout the season. The director also considered that If players Luuk de Jong and Samu hadn’t been plagued by injuries, FC Porto would have reached the finals of the Portuguese Cup and the Europa League.
“People’s joy is what moves me most. It’s FC Porto’s members and fans finding victories again. Finding titles again. This is an ultra-winning club”, he highlighted.
