Farioli after loss to Gil Vicente: “We’ve time to finalise business” | OneFootball

FC Porto’s defeat to Gil Vicente served for Francesco Farioli to reinforce that pre-season remains a phase of analysis, work and high demands. The Dragons’ coach assessed the team’s performance, addressed the upcoming Super Cup clash with Torreense, and spoke about the issues that remain unresolved in the transfer market. Asked whether the side was already ready to respond in the next match, he was unequivocal: “Of course not.”

After a preparation period he described as particularly demanding, Francesco Farioli again highlighted the importance of building a team capable of meeting expectations. Physical fatigue, the assessment of younger players and the contest for a trophy are all part of a process which, according to the Italian coach, is still far from complete.

In his analysis of the defeat against Gil Vicente, Farioli rejected the idea that the assessment should be limited to the result. Although he acknowledged some positive aspects in Porto’s display, he admitted the team lacked better finishing from the chances they created.

“Beyond the result, we have to take into account the way we played. I think we were reasonably good. The players have a lot of miles in their legs; it has been a very tough pre-season. They have been working well, but of course the result is not what we wanted,” he said. “There were several chances, especially in the first half, but we didn’t convert them the way we wanted. For us, it is also important to finish the game with so many young players so we can assess them and understand where they are at, because they represent the club’s present and future.”

The coach is therefore trying to balance the immediate pressure for results with the patience required for the project to develop. In this context, the younger players take on a central role, both because of the opportunity they are being given and the need to understand their ability to contribute now and in the future.

With the Super Cup against Torreense on the horizon, the focus has shifted to a match that will give FC Porto the chance to win the first trophy of the season. Farioli dismissed any suggestion that it would be an easier task and pointed to physical preparation, the mental side and the final makeup of the squad as decisive factors.

“We have to be ready, there is no alternative. We are going to play for a title against a team that had a fantastic run in the Portuguese Cup,” he stressed. “So we do not want to and will not underestimate anyone. We have to be at our best, both physically and psychologically, if we want to win the Super Cup. Is the squad complete? Of course not. There is still a lot of the transfer window ahead of us. We will have the time we need to finish what we still have to do in the market.”

His comments make it clear that there are two parallel priorities: fielding a team ready for the Super Cup and continuing to work on reshaping the squad. Without looking for immediate fixes, Farioli underlined that more time will still be needed to complete the planned transfer business.

When faced with the possibility of repeating a team similar to last season’s, the coach framed the issue in collective terms. The intention is not to automatically replicate the past, but to preserve what worked and consolidate a mentality that can strengthen the bond between the team and the fans.

“It is a challenge that everyone at the club is embracing: to repeat the things we did well and make our supporters proud of our mentality. The results will be a consequence of that,” he explained. “All the players came back in good physical condition and are working very hard. We are all working to live up to the expectations placed on us.”

In Farioli’s view, mentality should serve as the foundation for achieving results. The physical condition shown by the players and the commitment they demonstrate every day are the pillars of an ambition that must now be translated into performances on the pitch.

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