Farioli, ‘Netflix’ and ‘mix-up’: ‘Only City have run it since I arrived’ | OneFootball

Francesco Farioli previewed FC Porto’s game against Benfica tomorrow, putting aside the comments about refereeing after the match with Casa Pia. The Porto coach also addressed the opponent’s possible adjustments and rejected the idea of a team that sits back, arguing that the Dragons look to take charge of games. Amid the noise surrounding the week, he asked only for “a fair game.”

On the eve of another meeting between FC Porto and Benfica, Francesco Farioli sought to keep the focus on the pitch. Between the need to respond to the opponent’s choices and the defence of a proactive identity, the message was clear: the recent past should not take up space in the preparation for the next challenge.

Asked about the comments he made on refereeing after the game with Casa Pia, the coach refused to prolong the controversy. Farioli framed the atmosphere of recent days as noise he has no intention of feeding.

“In the last week, I think it was very clear that this is a Netflix series that sometimes ends up on Sport TV. We do not want to feed that,” he said. “It was a comment that came up there about tomorrow’s game. All the noise stays behind us, the past is the past. We have to be focused on tomorrow’s game and hope for a fair game.”

The Italian did not back away from the image he used, but he made sure to close the matter without giving it any further dimension. The priority, he implied, lies in what the team can control once the ball starts rolling.

Regarding Aursnes being used in Benfica’s double pivot alongside Palhinha against Milan, Farioli admitted that the characteristics of the opposing players could affect the shape of the match. Rather than predicting certainties, he pointed to a game of adjustments on both sides.

“The characteristics of certain players will define the rotation, because the players are not in the most comfortable scenario. There will be adjustments on their side and we have to do the same.”

The coach’s reading therefore comes down to the ability to react to a changing context. There is no room to prepare for the match as if Benfica’s choices were unchangeable, nor to ignore the need for FC Porto to adapt as well.

When asked whether FC Porto would be more commanding or hand the initiative to Benfica, Farioli dismissed any idea of a passive team. The coach argued that being solid without the ball does not mean giving up control of the game.

“Since I arrived at FC Porto, only Manchester City have controlled the game against us. I think there is a big misunderstanding about us being solid and good without the ball, because this team tries to dictate the game, with and without the ball, by doing the right things,” he stressed. “There are moments when we have the ball and we need to have the ability to be clear about what we have to do, but we also have to be very brave and proactive when we do not have it. We have to be organised, especially tomorrow.”

It is a demanding definition of what Farioli wants from his team: initiative with the ball, courage without it, and organisation at all times. Against Benfica, the coach wants FC Porto to maintain that consistency, without confusing caution with surrender.

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