Is Benfica a worry for Farioli? Porto coach admits: “The level has risen” | OneFootball

Francesco Farioli reflected on Porto’s 4-1 win over Casa Pia in the sixth round of the Liga Portugal Betclic. In the press conference, the Italian coach looked ahead to the next match, the Clássico against Benfica, and said that the Eagles’ level has improved.

"Without a doubt, the level of our competitors has gone up. We knew this because of the business they did in the market, the decisions they made and, of course, in one case, with the change of coach. They are new teams, new energy. What happened last season stayed in last season. This year is a new chapter, a new battle for everyone," he began.

He then revealed that he will begin preparing for the big clash immediately. "Our preparation starts tomorrow morning — in fact, for us, the coaching staff, it starts a little earlier, already on the bus ride back. We will have a full week to work, to be ready and to welcome them to the Dragão in front of our fans, with the right spirit, with the same desire as always and with the will to put on a great performance for our supporters," he said.

It is worth remembering that Porto is involved in a major national controversy. Supposedly, the Dragons wanted to remove Fábio Veríssimo from the Clássico against the Eagles in the quarter-finals of the 2025/26 Portuguese Cup due to the existing dispute between the two parties.

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