Farioli reassures squad, keeps faith ahead of derby with Sporting | OneFootball

Essentially, the message that Francesco Farioli and Pablo Rosario conveyed publicly after the game was also communicated internally. It was just a defeat, which everyone knew could happen at any moment, and it in no way compromises the path of a team that achieved the record points in the first half. “We weren't extraterrestrials before, nor are we more human now,” said the Italian, later repeating this idea to the players, without directly blaming them for the defeat, although he warned about the need to increase defensive concentration to avoid repeating the mistakes that led to the two goals by the “geese.” The state of the pitch was not used as an excuse, it only helped to explain a more subdued performance, especially in the final third.

The support of around four thousand fans who braved rain and cold in Rio Maior, and the way they bid farewell to the players with applause and chants, was well received by the “Portista family” and served as a stimulant for the squad. On Tuesday morning, the team began preparations for the big game of the next round, with Villas-Boas present to watch, clearly showing support without any intervention with the group. There were no usual smiles from the players, it's true, but the commitment and intensity remained, just as Farioli had asked the day before. “It's about working exactly as we have been, because we are on training session number 34 or 35, and in that sequence, there were maybe three or four where I could complain that the training wasn't up to par. The others were with top attitude and desire, and the transfer of that to the field has been clear. I just want the same spirit and quality that I've seen in these six months, nothing more,” emphasized the coach, immediately turning the page from Casa Pia to focus on Sporting. This Wednesday is a day off for everyone to recover and finally forget the first setback of the season in the championship.

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