Farioli on Gimenez's call-up: “I don't want headlines on TV…” | OneFootball

Francesco Farioli, FC Porto’s head coach, addressed the upcoming derby at the Dragão and Gimenez’s call-up to the Mexico national team, two issues arising at a demanding time for the squad. The coach refused to magnify the match beyond the battle for points and called for calm over the player’s absence, assuring: “It’s mathematics, nothing more than that.”

Previewing a derby at the Dragão, Francesco Farioli drew a clear line between the natural importance of the challenge and the need to maintain the team’s competitive identity. The same restraint marked his reaction to Gimenez’s call-up: respect for the national team, close contact with the player, and no room for outside noise.

Asked about the weight of the derby, Farioli was pragmatic. He acknowledged the chance to stop their opponent and collect points, but rejected the idea that the match should change the way FC Porto prepares for every game.

“It’s mathematics, nothing more than that. It’s an important game, nothing more than that,” he said. “We have the opportunity to get a good result, stop our opponent and win points, but we shouldn’t attach too much importance to that, because we try to approach every game in the same way. When the derby is at the Dragão, it’s special. The fans help us give an extra effort, which is always necessary.”

The coach does not ignore the unique intensity of a derby in front of Porto’s supporters, but places it at the service of a bigger idea: turning the atmosphere into an extra push without allowing the occasion to become a distraction.

Regarding Gimenez’s call-up to the Mexico national team, Farioli admitted the club had no room to intervene. The focus, he explained, is on managing the absence discreetly and preserving the connection with the player during his time away from the club.

“We have to respect the national team call-ups. There was nothing we could do,” he explained. “Now is not the time for extra noise. I don’t want headlines in newspapers and on television; I want us to stand out for our great performances and for our players. We would have liked to have him here to work over the next few weeks, but we will be in direct contact to make the most of his time away from the club.”

Rather than fueling the controversy around the call-up, Farioli pointed to what he wants to see recognized: the team’s work and the quality of their performances. Gimenez’s absence is treated as a circumstance to manage, not as an excuse.

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