Farioli: Positive results don’t make us relax, we stay alert | OneFootball

This Saturday (8:15pm, RTP1), at Estádio do Dragão, FC Porto begins a “very long stretch” that will require “work” and “very high demands,” so “it’s a good time for the fans to get behind the team.” In the fourth round of the Portuguese Cup, Porto hosts SU Sintrense, from the Campeonato de Portugal – the same opponent as in the third round of 2021/22 and 2024/25 – and Francesco Farioli asked that “the opponent be given the respect they deserve,” reminding everyone that Sintrense has already “eliminated Vizela and Rio Ave” and “came from behind in both matches.”

The coach reported that, “in terms of injuries, Bednarek is still recovering from the problem he had in Utrecht, which led to his substitution in Famalicão, and now we also have Victor Froholdt, who returned from the national team with some complaints,” and also announced that Luuk de Jong “will certainly get some minutes” and that “Cláudio Ramos will be starting.”

Speaking about managing the three forwards in the squad, the Italian coach said it was a “good problem” and stressed that he would look to “find different possibilities to explore their potential,” one option being “to use Deniz Gül out wide” and another “to play with two strikers.” He added that this is also “work to be done” at the Olival training center, described as “a private place, far from everything, where the network isn’t very good and the television doesn’t work well,” and that both the coaching staff and the players are “very demanding, starting with a great captain who demands more from himself and his teammates every day, but also with the other players who are leaders.” He also stated: “Positive results don’t make us relax. We are always alert to the aspects we need to develop in a stretch that will be very long. We are focused on this so we can improve every day.”

Sintrense, returning home, and injuries“Last season is already behind us, this is a new chapter and we have to give the opponent the respect they deserve. They have already eliminated Vizela and Rio Ave, in both matches they were behind and turned it around, they are organized and we have to be ready to compete. Of course, playing at home after a period of many away games is important, it’s a good time for the fans to be with us and support us in this stretch full of matches so we can continue our journey. In terms of injuries, Bednarek is still recovering from the problem he had in Utrecht, which led to his substitution in Famalicão, and now we also have Victor Froholdt, who returned from the national team with some complaints and we are managing his situation, already thinking about the match with OGC Nice.”

Luuk de Jong“He will be in the squad. He started training with the team at the beginning of the week, first partially and then at one hundred percent. He had no setbacks with his knee, did great aerobic work thanks to his dedication and the work of the coaching staff. Tomorrow he will certainly get some minutes.”

The opposing coach’s praise“There’s not much to teach. I didn’t see the press conference, but I appreciate the compliments. There aren’t many secrets, my career also started from the bottom, at the lowest level possible in football, and my journey has brought me great experiences. The only secret is to work hard and meet people who trust you and give you the opportunities you deserve.”

A “good problem” up front“I’ve already said what I had to say about Deniz Gül when he didn’t have so many minutes yet. He has great physical ability, is very strong, fast, finishes well, works well off the ball and is very intelligent, so he has many good qualities. He has gained a different status in the group and we can trust him. It’s good to have him back and it’s good to have Luuk de Jong back. These are the good problems that all coaches like to have. It’s up to me to find different possibilities to explore their potential. One of them is to use Deniz more out wide. It’s not his position, but he has the skills to play as a winger if needed. There’s also the scenario of playing with two strikers, we are considering that. It will be a good challenge to try to maximize the potential of our three forwards.”

Cláudio Ramos“Cláudio Ramos will be starting.”

Maximum demands“I am always ready for criticism. We are very comfortable here, we are in a private place, far from everything, the network isn’t very good, the television doesn’t work well, so we focus on what we can control. We are working well, we are very demanding, both the coaching staff and the players, starting with a great captain who demands more from himself and his teammates every day, but also with the other players who are leaders. The level of demand is very high in the group, at times in games we haven’t been at our best, but I think that’s part of football when you play every 72 hours. It’s part of our evolution that we have to continue in the coming weeks. What matters is the trajectory. Positive results don’t make us relax. We are always alert to the aspects we need to develop in a stretch that will be very long: 19 weeks and 30 possible games. We have work to do and we are focused on that to improve every day.”

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