Former Fenerbahçe coach Vitor Pereira: 'Football is for me...'

Fenerbahçe's former manager Vitor Pereira has made statements to the Spain-based outlet Relevo.

The Portuguese manager, who is currently serving as the head coach of Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia, said in his interview, "Football is like a drug for me; I need it every day."

ARDA GÜLER COMMENTS

Speaking about Arda Güler, whom he worked with at Fenerbahçe, and Endrick, the new Real Madrid signing who was his rival during his time at Flamengo, Pereira said, "They need time, but I have no doubt that they are players with the Real Madrid profile."

The 55-year-old manager, who has worked in Saudi Arabia before, answered the question, "What differences did you see when you returned?" by saying, "I found better organization, better working conditions, and better pitches. Also better players and coaches. In short, a more competitive league."

"NOT LIKE AT FENERBAHÇE"

Making statements about his time in China, the 55-year-old manager said, "I worked in China for three years. They invested a lot in players and coaches, but they thought that having a strong team meant signing foreign players who were at the end of their careers. They didn't get the results they wanted. Then Covid was added to that. This caused them to stop investments and projects were left unfinished. Also, in my opinion, there was a clear lack of academies in China."

Answering the question of whether working in different countries has affected his management style, the Portuguese manager said, "Today I am a better-equipped manager. In my opinion, those who understand the contexts in which they work are more likely to be successful. If you quickly understand the cultural and specific characteristics of the league you are in, the more likely you are to convince others to follow you and win. I did my work at Porto, a big European club. I always worked to win. I was there for eight years to win and deal with pressure. I love football in Arabia, but you don't feel the same pressure as you do at Porto, Fenerbahçe, or Olympiakos. Still, I can feel the passion. My fuel is passion. I need to feel that. That's why my career decisions are almost always based on these types of contexts. This is how I experience football. The moment I feel butterflies in my stomach, I am very happy, and that is the energy I need to bring out my best."

"SEVILLA PREFERRED SOMEONE ELSE"

Answering the question, "Can you be the same manager everywhere?" Pereira replied, "You have to adapt. There are things you can actually change, and there are other things you have to accept and adapt to. For example, in Saudi Arabia, there is a religious aspect that greatly affects the way you organize training and your work."

Reminded that he was once close to the Spanish team Sevilla, Vitor Pereira said, "Yes, we were close with Sevilla. I had talks with Sevilla and Almeria. It wasn't the right time; we were very close to signing, but Sevilla preferred someone else. As for Almeria, I was the one who said no. I realized it wasn't a suitable project for my goals. Sevilla is a great club, I really liked their project, but in the end, they decided on another manager."

"ARDA WILL LEAVE HIS MARK ON AN ERA"

Responding to a question about Arda Güler, whom he worked with at Fenerbahçe and who later transferred to Real Madrid, the 55-year-old manager said, "Arda Güler is a boy I had the privilege of working with when he was 16. He was a little boy; even today he has the face of a child. Like other players with immense potential, he has a quality that sets him apart from the others, which is talent and personality. I have no doubt that he will leave his mark on an era in Madrid."

Finally, answering the question about what kind of planning he is considering for his career, Pereira said, "I usually say that a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush. But I have a big European league in my sights. I feel good and I am looking forward to the next project to manage in a major European league."