Farioli: “We await Benfica at the Dragão with the same hunger as ever” | OneFootball

Francesco Farioli, FC Porto’s head coach, spoke at the press conference after the 4-1 win over Casa Pia in Rio Maior, in the matchday 6 clash of the league. The coach analyzed the game and also looked ahead to the clássico against Benfica.

On the reaction after the defeat to City

«It is always important to win, especially after a midweek game that took a lot of physical and mental energy out of us; the Champions League match was extremely tough. Then coming here today to play on a pitch without the proper conditions: dry, very hot. Last year we dropped points here… everything was in place for us to have a difficult game, and it was, but the team showed with maturity and consistency that it has the ability to respond to adversity».

The impact of Santiago Gimenez and André Silva in attack

«The relationship is positive. Today both scored, André from the start and Gimenez when he came on, and they had a positive impact on the team. It is always good when a striker scores. We are also waiting for Samu to return as soon as possible, so we keep moving forward. We are trying to get Santi in the best possible condition, and André is giving us great continuity. We are happy with their work and with the room we have to improve collectively and individually».

The instructions given at halftime

«It was very direct: I basically spoke about the things we had to improve, the situations we had to exploit more clearly, with less time to think. It was not about motivation, because the team was well prepared, with good training sessions. So far, in these months that I have been here, the team has shown itself to be very mature, very competitive, led by a group of captains who do not let anyone drop their heads. I just have to do my job as a coach and nothing more than that».

A stronger Benfica than last season?

«The level of our rivals has gone up. We knew that, because of the transfer business they did, because of the decisions they made; one of the two even changed coach. They are new teams, new energies. What happened last season stays in last season; it is a new year, a new battle for everyone. Our preparation starts tomorrow morning; for us it starts a little earlier, now on the way back, on the bus. We will have a week to work, to be ready, and we will be waiting for them at the Dragão, in front of our fans, with the right spirit, with the same desire as always: to deliver a great performance».

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