Don't call me new Mourinho, says Villas-Boas

DUBLIN — Porto manager Andre Villas-Boas says he should not be labelled as the new Jose Mourinho, even if he emulates his mentor by winning the Europa League final against Sporting Braga on Wednesday.Villas-Boas has earned favourable comparisons with Mourinho during a record-breaking first season in charge of Porto.And he will garner more rave reviews if he leads the Portuguese club to a repeat of the 2003 UEFA Cup triumph mastermined by Mourinho during his time at the Dragao Stadium.The 33-year-old has intimate knowledge of Mourinho's methodology after spending eight years working as his compatriot's opposition scout at Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan.But Villas-Boas believes the comparisons end there.Real Madrid coach Mourinho is never happier than when he is central to the drama of a big match -- even if he has to create a storm to steal the spotlight -- and he drills his players to conform to his cautious game-plans.In contrast, the rather more humble Villas-Boas deflects the credit for his achievements onto his players."People focus a lot on the work of the manager and I don't see it that way," Villas-Boas said on Tuesday."I don't see myself as a one-man show. Football isn't won by one person but by collective competence. It is the quality of the players and the structure of the club."I just want to make my players give their most. I give them room to express themselves because that's how they develop."I promote their talent and let them make their own decisions. There are no dictators."We dont see the game as a tactical game. If you are a dictator of choices, players won't be able to explore their possibilities to the full. You have to be able to free them."Villas-Boas is reportedly no longer on close terms with Mourinho after deciding to leave the Special One's coaching staff to become a manager himself at Academica in 2009.He plays down talk of a rift but pointedly ignored the chance to praise Mourinho for helping his development."I spent seven years with Jose and we were part of a very good techni

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