'Many players didn't want to be at the Club World Cup' - Ex-Chelsea manager Villas-Boas reveals

The FIFA Club World Cup, which was hosted in the United States, started on the 12th of June 2025.

FC Porto president featured on the Men In Blazers podcast and spoke about the ongoing Club World Cup.

"This is a difficult time for European clubs. Some clubs have an advantage because they are at the beginning of their season, like the Brazilian and Argentinian clubs, for example. They're just starting, with 10 or 15 games played. They're fresh. They've recently established their structure, particularly in Brazil, and they have a lot of talent.

"Palmeiras has invested heavily this season, and I think it's going to be a great match against a great team. This comes at a bad time for European clubs; some of us had to give players time off and then call them back early, without them having time to reset.

"It's almost a continuation of last season, and the next one is right around the corner, so there was no reset. It's interesting. We recently tested the market with the special transfer window for the Club World Cup, and it was incredible to see that many players didn't want to be in this competition because they preferred to rest and start the new season fresh.

"With the 2026 World Cup coming to the United States next year, with more teams... The calendar is becoming exhausting, and we're seeing more injuries. Players can't contribute to the spectacle if they're not fresh," he said on the Men In Blazers podcast, when asked about FC Porto's objective at the Club World Cup.

"We have a responsibility to win games and get past the group stage. In the round of 16, we could face two important European teams," he said, highlighting the connection the Dragons maintain with former players.

"We always try to stay in touch with them, for example with players like Diogo Jota, Rúben Neves, or Vitinha, who won the Nations League and the Champions League. FC Porto has intrinsic values, and we try to bridge the gap with our former players. We're very proud of them, and we always hope to have them back at the club," he commented.

"FC Porto represents the fight against the establishment; that has always been the history of the city and the club. Some people talk about it as if it were some kind of second-city syndrome, but we don't see it that way. We see values like pride in our colors.

"We see people in the streets wearing the FC Porto jersey. These are things that are passed down from generation to generation, from grandparents who take their grandchildren to the stadium. We are a members' club; they own the club, and that gives us a huge emotional competitive advantage," he concluded, via Abola