After cup exit, FC Porto rally at the Dragão for the title | OneFootball

FC Porto’s team and staff returned to the Dragão pitch after the draw with Sporting (0-0), a result that sealed their elimination from the Portuguese Cup. In a spontaneous gesture, carried by the support from the stands, which acknowledged the team’s commitment and pointed toward winning the national title, Francesco Farioli joined that moment right there on the pitch, in an instant of unity that immediately marked the shift in focus to what is still left to play for. The coach encouraged the players, stressing that they had to be proud of their effort and performance, and urged them to look at everything they have done and built so far, in a journey that has created a strong sense of belonging and identification among the fans, whose reaction last night left a special mark on the group.

Demand remains the watchword at Olival — just recall what several players have repeated throughout the season — and, internally, the Dragons know they had the conditions to achieve a different outcome both in the Portuguese Cup and in the Europa League. Disappointment has set in and the less positive aspects will be analyzed, but Farioli wants the progress made since the start of the season to keep the team’s heads held high and their confidence intact. That is because the Dragons started practically from scratch, with a new coaching staff and a deeply revamped squad, after one of FC Porto’s most difficult and painful seasons in decades, when the title race slipped away very early. About nine months later, and despite three very serious injuries, two of them in the same position (Samu and Luuk de Jong), the blue-and-whites have led the league from the start, closed the gap on their rivals, and feel capable of taking on any opponent.

The focus is now on consolidating this team’s progress in one final push to reclaim the league title, three seasons after FC Porto’s last championship and the season’s main objective. In that sense, the message is clear: no one is allowing themselves to be distracted either by the “sirens’ songs” claiming the title is already wrapped up, or by any pressure that may arise around the group, as Jan Bednarek had already mentioned after the derby. Total respect for the four opponents still left to face in the league, starting with Estrela da Amadora, who at Reboleira made Benfica fight hard for a 1-0 win and recently did the same against Sporting, in addition to drawing 3-3 at home against Braga.

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