Francesco Farioli on FC Porto v AVS SAD: “There are no easy games for us” | OneFootball

Francesco Farioli presented the preview for the match between FC Porto and AVS SAD, corresponding to the 16th round of the Primeira Liga, scheduled for Monday, December 29, at 8:15 pm, at Estádio do Dragão. In a press conference, the Italian coach stated:

“If we look at the table, it’s a team that is in first place and a team that is in last. Reality is always different. They recently changed coach. He is a coach with a lot of experience, also in Portugal. We analyzed the game they played to try to find patterns and things in common. You know how I think. There are no games that allow us to relax. We will have to be alert, competitive, especially since we are coming from a week without games, which is an unusual scenario. What I can say is that in the last training sessions the players came back with desire and energy, and tomorrow we will have to be able to transmit those feelings onto the pitch and achieve a good result.”

“In the last two games, the trend was more positive for AVS. They are living different moments. And this is an extra reason for us to be more focused on tomorrow’s game. But, as I’ve said, we have many things that motivate us and that is our priority. Of course, in the long term, over a long season, more than motivation, what is important is discipline, and our team has already proven the ability to be consistent and resilient at the right moments. And that’s what I expect for tomorrow. It’s part of FC Porto’s DNA to enter with the right spirit, with aggressiveness, and to show our best to our fans,” he added.

Francesco Farioli was asked about returning to work after Christmas:

“Some players came back two kilos lighter… I think they were cycling in the sauna, they arrived in great shape. And the last training sessions had a lot of energy, a lot of positive energy. Unfortunately, that doesn’t win games, but it can help us get closer to that. As I said, my wish for tomorrow is to transfer that energy onto the pitch. The break was well deserved for us. I think the players did very well over those three days, spent time with family, we also received good news from Gabri Veiga, who became a father on the 25th, and it has been positive for everyone. Recharge batteries and now it’s time to give everything in the league again in tomorrow’s game, we hope with a full Dragão to end the year the way the fans and the city deserve.”

Francesco Farioli commented on a statement by Frederico Varandas, president of Sporting, about refereeing and the term “paratrooper”:

“The metaphor about that… The only paratrooper is our photographer, who is trying to learn. I don’t play padel, I’m a very boring person. I don’t do extreme activities. The rest is noise, pollution. Although I’ve been in Portugal for a short time, I think I’ve seen enough in six months to have my opinion and I always share it with respect in order to respect my club and the people who are here with me.”

Francesco Farioli also spoke about the renewal of Diogo Costa:

“I think it was a big step for the team and for the club. His renewal was celebrated with a lot of energy from all the other players. His growth in terms of leadership, charisma, the way he wears the armband. In my opinion, he is unique. I am very proud to work with him and to have him as captain. We have a good relationship, we respect each other, we like each other a lot. It’s great to have a player with his talent and personality. And, of course, our ambition puts us on the same page, our desire to set the right standards and behaviors. From there, the rest comes with daily work, which is the most important. It’s a process.”

Francesco Farioli addressed the football played by FC Porto, following questions about consistency against theoretically stronger teams and difficulties with opponents who are weaker on paper:

“That’s your opinion. I think modern football always brings difficult scenarios, difficult situations on the pitch. Teams are more organized every day, coaches are improving in every league, at every level. The players’ knowledge is also growing. And, tactically, of course we need to find the key to unlock games. And when we’re facing a team that defends a lot, the game depends a lot on events. Even when we dominate, when we have possession, that’s not always enough. You need organization, the ability to win duels. A good example was the game against Tondela. In the first half we had difficulties. Not because we played badly, but we didn’t have the ability to speed up the game as we should. We were weak in our ability to unlock the game individually, we had a very low percentage of successful dribbles. And in those games, that is essential. I think it’s more about teams that press more or drop deeper, not necessarily about being stronger or weaker. We have to quickly understand the type of game and find the best solution,” he said.

Asked about the comparison made by José Mourinho between Benfica and Lewis Hamilton, and about where FC Porto fits in that analogy, as well as his view on refereeing in Portugal, Francesco Farioli stated:

“I like to watch Formula 1, but there are many things. My position regarding refereeing in Portugal I think has already been made clear. And I continue to say what I said a few weeks ago. There is no need to add anything else, just open the press conference on YouTube and you’ll find my position and my ideas to try to improve Portuguese football. The other noise, the comments, the metaphors… That needs to be far from our minds. We have an important game tomorrow, which comes at a crucial moment of the season for us. I think that’s where we need to be, our energy needs to be invested there. Honestly, nowhere else. I’d like to close the conference now because we still have work to do in the office and that is the priority. Let’s stop talking about noise, about pollution, and I’d just like to talk about the game.”

Francesco Farioli also explained Alan Varela’s role in the team:

“Alan is one of the players with the most minutes in the team. He has already had cramps on heavy pitches in recent games. He’s given us a lot and will continue to give us a lot. He is a key player for us. And I think the combination, the way you asked the question, might suggest there is competition between them [Alan Varela and Pablo Rosario]. But the truth is they complement each other very well. In some games, they can play together. And that gives a lot to the team. The season is long, tomorrow’s game is important and I have to make decisions in midfield. But looking further ahead, I think having two players of this quality in midfield will be important for us and we will try to manage them in the best way, trying to help them improve.”

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