Francesco Farioli: “It was definitely a good test for us” | OneFootball

Francesco Farioli, FC Porto’s head coach, gave a positive assessment of Friday’s friendly against RC Deportivo, which the Dragons won 1-3 at the Riazor Stadium. Between managing playing time, integrating Chris Smalling, and André Silva’s brace, the coach highlighted the usefulness of the match and assured: “It was definitely a good test for us.”

With roughly a week to go before the official return to competition, Francesco Farioli used the trip to Galicia to try out solutions and spread out game time. With no injuries and a win, FC Porto now turns its attention to the trip to Madeira, where they will face Marítimo in the league on October 10 at 6:00 pm.

The result helped, but the match was above all marked by changes and by players being used in different positions. Francisco Moura and Pepê stood out in a week in which a lack of options forced the team to look for new answers.

“It was a good test for us, with several changes and players playing in different positions, such as Francisco Moura and Pepê, who had a very good game. This week we tried something new because we were short in several positions, but it was definitely a good test for us, with no injuries and with a result that always helps because it was a win,” Farioli said. “We’re happy with the comeback and now we have to move on and wait for the internationals to return.”

More than just a simple win in a friendly, the match served to broaden the range of options and test adaptations. The absence of physical problems completed an assessment the coach had no hesitation in describing as positive.

Squad management followed a plan defined before the match, with no improvisation in the distribution of minutes. Samu and Smalling were among the players whose usage was carefully managed.

“Everything was planned and we made the substitutions according to the minutes we wanted to give the players,” he explained. “It was good to have Samu on the pitch for 45 minutes, and Smalling was already able to play 60 minutes with a good contribution. It was a good week of work and a good result; now we’re going to rest a little and wait for the players who are away on international duty to return so we can prepare for the match against Marítimo, which is always difficult because they are a good team and because it is against a good side.”

The friendly therefore made it possible to fulfill individual workloads and take further steps in preparation. A short break comes next, before the group begins to take shape again with the return of the internationals and the focus placed on Marítimo.

Regarding the signing of Chris Smalling, Farioli framed the decision around the needs identified together with the club. Nehuén Pérez’s muscle injury led FC Porto to seek greater protection for a season the coach expects to be long.

“It was a conversation we had with the Club about what we felt we needed. We shared those ideas because of the problem we had with Nehuén Pérez’s muscle injury in a season that is going to be long. It is a problem we never want to have, but it happens,” the coach acknowledged. “We did it to protect the team and the players, but we felt it was important to have an extra body in the squad, and we were lucky enough to bring in someone very experienced, who has already played 370 games for Manchester United, who has already played in the Champions League, and who has a winning mentality. He has the desire to help the team and in these first few days he has already shown that.”

Smalling’s arrival comes, in Farioli’s words, as a preventive response and also as a bet on experience. The first few days appear to have been enough for the Englishman to show the availability and mentality the coach wanted to add to the group.

André Silva was another of the night’s standout performers at Riazor, scoring twice. Farioli linked the striker’s efficiency to his daily work and constant commitment to the team.

“He works very well, he is always committed to the team and to helping in every situation. Today he scored two fantastic goals, one like a striker inside the box and another with top-level quality,” he stressed. “We are happy to have him and he is only getting what he deserves. We are happy for him and now we hope to have Samu back at his best and Santiago Gimenez in the physical condition we want.”

The brace was presented as a natural consequence of André Silva’s performances, not as an isolated episode. At the same time, Farioli made it clear that the attack is still looking to reach the desired condition, with Samu and Santiago Gimenez in Porto’s preparation plans.

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