Farioli: Same treatment as rivals would help, but we’re extra motivated | OneFootball

Seven and a half hours after the victory over OGC Nice at the Estádio do Dragão, the first team is back in action at home to host Estoril, who are “in a good run of form,” in a “difficult match” (Sunday, 8:30 pm, Sport TV1) for the 12th round of the League. Still with “two or three players who had some issues” after the European match and are doubtful, the coach wants “tomorrow to be a happy day for everyone” and asks the players to “stay alert” for possible traps.

“Happy to have such a close president” to deal with “quite obvious things that are still present,” the coach preferred to highlight a group that “is representing the Club very well,” that “always runs much more than the opponent by a wide margin,” and that “is very balanced, which allows us to find new solutions.”

Estoril Praia“It’s surely another difficult match, they are in a good run of form. They can defend in three, four, or five different ways, their attack is quite fluid, with quality in possession. We try to anticipate all scenarios, even though there isn’t much time to work, but the best part is that we have a group that is used to these dynamics and so tomorrow we will face Estoril with the best mentality and, I hope, with the right tools for this match.”

Injuries and the possible 100th career win“After the match with Nice, we had two or three players with some problems and given the short recovery time, it’s hard to get them back, but the medical staff is working hard to bring them back. We’ll assess these situations this afternoon to see if they are available or not. Regarding my personal milestone, it’s always good to win matches, it’s important and the priority is to keep moving forward on the path we want to follow. Let’s hope tomorrow is a happy day for everyone.”

The team above all“It’s important to share opportunities. We all want our forwards to score. On paper, Samu was the penalty taker, Gabri respected that and gave him the ball to take the shot. Of course, everyone wants to score, but the priority is to be a team and I think Gabri is also an example of that, not just because of the gesture in the last match, but for the way he’s been playing, how he’s contributed both offensively and defensively. I had already said we have great examples from other players, like Pepê, Rodrigo Mora, Borja Sainz, or William Gomes. That’s fantastic, that’s the way we need to go, and it’s an important representation of what FC Porto’s DNA is. I think they are representing the Club very well so far and I hope that continues in the future.”

Gabri Veiga“He’s getting closer to the level we want. I think there’s still room for improvement, not that he isn’t performing at the level I want, but because I believe he has more to give. My expectations for him are high. It’s true that in the last three or four weeks he’s been a different player, with strong legs and able to be more decisive. I don’t believe players can be divided into physical, technical, and tactical parameters. These factors go hand in hand. Being a bit better physically, he can be fresher in technical moves, and mentally he’s more connected to the game. He’s been working hard to get better every day. Let me tell you, sometimes he’s more demanding than I am and I have to calm him down a bit because he always wants to do more and better. That’s the secret to the great moment he’s living, and as I said before, I believe he still has room to improve, due to his age, the experience he’s gaining, and especially his talent. His profile is unique.”

The traps and the closeness of André Villas-Boas“Traps are things you don’t expect, otherwise they wouldn’t be traps. This is something we have to keep our system alert for, so we can react and find the right answers. Then there are other things that are quite obvious, one is the schedule, which is something I’m getting tired of commenting on every day, but unfortunately it’s a topic that’s still present. I’m very happy to have such a close president, who is so involved in the Club’s daily activities. I think he’s doing the best for the Club, making an effort, and trying to make the competition fairer for everyone, which is something everyone who loves football should strive for.”

Tomás Pérez“Tomás is doing well, he came back from the national team in even better physical condition because he played a lot of minutes and the tournament gave him confidence. He’s working hard, I’m very happy with how he’s making an effort and helping the team. He’s been a bit in the background, it’s harder to give opportunities to defenders and defensive midfielders, but the opportunity is around the corner and he’s working for when it comes.”

The long and tight schedule“When you are a player or coach at a big Club like FC Porto, this is the usual routine, so there’s nothing to complain about. When you sign the contract, you know you’ll play 55 or more matches per season, so that’s how you face the day-to-day, shaping the team’s competitive rhythm from preseason and preparing the players to be exposed to different scenarios. That’s what we’re doing. They are responding very well, the physical effort they are putting in on the pitch is incredible, we always run much more than the opponent by a wide margin. The effort and physical condition are there, of course in the long run you need freshness. We’re trying to promote this rotation of players, especially since we have a very balanced squad, and that allows me to find new solutions. We also responded very well to serious injuries like those of Luuk de Jong and Nehuén Pérez, that was due to the players’ adaptability. We saw how Deniz Gül stepped up, did well as a striker and now as a winger, Pablo Rosario can play four or five positions. We always have to look at the big picture, but the focus is on the next match and in the market we’ll explore what we can to become stronger and balance the team, especially at the back. As for the schedule, it would be good to have the same treatment as our rivals, but since we don’t, it’s an extra motivation to fight.”

Deniz Gül“He did well, contributed in four or five actions that resulted in goal opportunities, one of which led to the penalty won and converted by Samu. The performance was good, the attitude with and without the ball was good, I’m happy, but he has to keep working to get used to playing up front, in the middle, or more on the wing, and I’ve already said there’s a chance we’ll play with two forwards. According to our needs, we’ll try to choose the best options.”

The U-17 World Champions“They are very young, but age is not a limitation. For them it’s an opportunity and I’ve always given opportunities to young players, even 16-year-olds, to make their professional debut. I’m in constant contact with the Club to provide the best path from the academy to the first team. In the short term, they may have the chance to work with us over the next few months and in the long term, some of them will certainly be part of our preseason, receiving special treatment with some coaching staff working with them. So right now we’re aligning our ideas and trying to maximize the potential of these players, aiming to contribute as much as possible to the club, first in sporting terms and then financially.”

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