The president of FC Porto mourned the death of Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, "the man who transformed FC Porto since 1982 and who guided many fans" on a "day of deep sadness and pain" for the disappearance of "the greatest leader and the greatest reference". Speaking to journalists after the victory over Farense, André Villas-Boas revealed that "FC Porto has made its stadium available" so that "the members can say goodbye to the President, but also so that the President can spend a unique moment in a stadium he built" to the sound of the club anthem.

Eternal in his heart
“It's a first day of mourning for all Dragons, a day of deep sadness and pain. It's very difficult for all teams to play with a loss that is irreparable for the blue and white nation. We've lost our greatest leader, our great reference, a person who has transformed FC Porto since 1982 and who has guided many fans, certainly me. We want to dedicate this victory to the President and his grieving family, to whom we offer our most sincere condolences. The team, after arriving in Porto, will pay their respects and will also be present at the funeral tomorrow.

We will all miss Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa very much, he will forever be the President of the Presidents of FC Porto. He brings back many good memories, not only of victories, but also of all his irony, wit, words, the comfort and encouragement he gave to so many Porto fans to dream bigger and we want to keep him in our hearts forever.”

Estádio do Dragão will be open
“FC Porto has made its stadium available, we'd love to have Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa with us, of course we have to respect the family's wishes, we've been in direct and indirect contact with the family in order to at least ensure that the fans can say goodbye to Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa one last time, understanding the moment of grief that the entire blue and white nation is going through, but especially the family. We have to give them space to decide accordingly and decide what they think is best for their family member, for their father, in the case of Joana and Alexandre.”

Last farewell
“We would like to do so, we would very much like to do so, but we will respect any and all decisions made by the family, so we are prepared and we have an indication from the police that the funeral car will go down Alameda in the direction of the stadium, and we would very much like it to enter Estádio do Dragão, for the members to say goodbye to the President, but also for the President to spend this unique moment in a stadium that he built, in a club that he helped build and for the FC Porto anthem to be played at that moment.”

Culture of victory
“I think that Pinto da Costa is in the hearts of many people, as I've told you certainly in mine, we're not just talking about his irony and wit, we're talking about a whole culture of victory within an institution, within the blue and white nation, from fan to fan, from member to member, and this is something that has grown in us, that has moulded our principles and our values and it's something that we spread over time, we also spread it to our children and a lot comes from this legacy. His legacy isn't just victories, it's not just the heritage he left FC Porto in terms of titles and work, it's also the principles and values that mould FC Porto, mould our fans, and that's what we'll carry forever from now on.”

Respect for his wishes
“It's a bit of a sensitive moment because I have a lot of respect for Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa and also for his word and his statement. Therefore, I don't want to be a hostile figure to either the solemn moment or to his family, or try to go against his wish here. His wish was direct and clear and I intend to respect it and that will also be the case if the funeral procession goes to Estádio do Dragão. If the family shows a different wish, I will obviously rethink this, but this is something he said in life and I intend to respect it.”