Farioli on Mec signing and forwards’ role: “André ran 12 kilometres…” | OneFootball

Was it complicated managing the squad list for the Champions League? “We had to make decisions based on the needs and the scenarios we’re going to face. Leaving Prpic out was difficult. He’s been with us for a year and has helped us a lot. I explained that to him yesterday. He was happy to stay here, to be able to help, and he supported the decision. Not being on the European squad list doesn’t compromise anything, because he’ll have time to help us. All 23/24 players will have an important role.”

Giménez has been called up and hasn’t played since the World Cup. He is recovering from an injury and won’t be able to play many minutes. With three matches in one week, does André Silva run the risk of being overloaded? “Yes, he does. Now, with Santi, we have to take it day by day and look at the situation as it really is, while monitoring his progress. I believe tomorrow we’ll be able to use the game to understand what condition he’s in. The summer wasn’t easy for him. The last two years have been complicated. Without discussing the player’s level—he made a big impact at the clubs he played for—he has experience and arrives with great hunger and a strong desire to help, starting tomorrow. But we have to be very clear about how we’re going to manage him and bring him back to his best level. André is in top shape, in very good form. In Viseu, he ran almost 12 kilometers. We were even laughing about the fact that he was almost matching Froholdt’s numbers. That says a lot about his spirit and ambition, about putting himself at the service of the team, scoring goals, defending attentively, and covering the extra meters he’s been putting in during every phase of the game to help the team. It also says a lot about his leadership and the confidence his teammates have in him. When Samu comes back, those three players will have a very important role in many stages of the season. We want all three of them to be in the best possible shape.”

Gabriel Mec has characteristics similar to Rodrigo Mora’s. In what position do you imagine him playing? “I don’t disagree. He has certain characteristics similar to Rodrigo Mora’s. He’s a bit more of a winger, but he can also play as an attacking midfielder. He made a good professional debut at Grémio and has a lot of potential. FC Porto is always ready and alert to possible opportunities in the market. A player with this kind of potential made us eager to try to sign him. We have to watch his development. There’s a lot of work to be done. He needs to grow physically and adapt to the new demands. No rush with him, no forcing anything, but we want him to be ready as quickly as possible. His opportunity will come.”

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