Farioli calms tensions at FC Porto: “We can't be stupid” | OneFootball

On Friday, FC Porto strengthened their solitary leadership of the I League by imposing themselves categorically at the Estádio dos Arcos against Rio Ave, winning 0-3 with goals from Pablo Rosario, Samu Aghehowa and Gabri Veiga, at 4, 13 and 52 minutes, respectively.

With this outcome, the blue and white team totals 18 points out of a possible 18, and fans have already started to demand the national champions title, which has eluded them since 2021/22. In the press conference after the final whistle, Francesco Farioli sought, however, to calm the spirits.

"We have to work and maintain this level of enthusiasm among the fans, but we also can't be stupid and consider ourselves better than we really are. After the game with Sporting, I said it was possible to see how everything changes in two months... The players who were here were not that bad two months ago, and they are not the best now. We cannot let the level drop. There were some things I didn't like," he said.

"It's a good start, but the past is the past. We have to look to the future, starting with the Europa League, with the game against Salzburg. Then, we will be working again for the game against Arouca, there is the Europa League again and, after, another game [against Benfica]. We have to look forward and not celebrate too much what we have already done. We have, instead, to look at what we have done and what needs to be improved," he continued.

"We were that team for ten or 15 minutes, but then, we showed small things that, from the outside, can be more complicated to see. I did not see the team I want to see for 90 minutes. There were some moments when we were not at the level that the League and the opponents demand," he added.

The Italian coach also took the opportunity to reassure members about Alan Varela, who left at halftime complaining of pain, giving way to Zaidu Sanusi: "It was a precautionary substitution. He took a kick in one of the calves. I believe it is nothing to worry about".

"We are going to need everyone, due to some injuries we have had and now we are going to have many games... Everyone will have an important role. We have learned to maintain a high level in training sessions. I have to mention, also, some elements of the B team. Everyone is rowing in the same direction, which is the correct one," he stressed.

FC Porto now turns its attention to the debut in the group stage of the Europa League. The first match, against the Austrians from Salzburg - an opponent they have never encountered in their history -, is scheduled for 20:00 (Portugal Continental time) next Wednesday, at the Red Bull Arena.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.