Andre Villas-Boas tells FC Porto players they were a ‘disgrace’ in Clássico defeat to Benfica

Andre Villas-Boas’ tenure as FC Porto president has hit yet another stumbling block with a humbling Clássico defeat to Benfica.

Porto were handed one of their heaviest-ever losses against their Lisbon rivals as they were hammered 4-1 and they’re now six points short of Primeira Liga leaders Sporting CP.

Villas-Boas took over as club president in the summer from Pinto da Costa but soon had to deal with the fallout of Sergio Conceicao‘s departure, and then an alleged financial black hole left behind by the previous regime.

It at least looked like Villas-Boas had got his coaching appointment right in Vitor Bruno, but after a humbling loss, he was forced to intervene in the dressing room.

A Bola report that the former Chelsea and Tottenham coach left his box at Estádio da Luz before the full-time whistle to confront the players and told them that their performance ‘was a disgrace’.

He also said their ‘lack of aggression represented the antithesis of what it means to play for Porto’ and demanded that they show respect for the club.

The day after the defeat, Porto cancelled a scheduled day off for the players before the international break.

There were also protests outside of the club’s Olival training ground and reports that Vitor Bruno’s car was damaged by fans.

To make matters worse for Villas-Boas, he was also attacked by former FC Porto communications director Francisco J. Marques.

He wrote on social media: “Do you know how many times, as president of FC Porto, Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa conceded four goals to Benfica? In 42 years of presidency, not once.

“Now the Lisbon press will speak well of FC Porto and its directors. We miss the time when we were all lucky fans.”