Pablo Rosario on Porto v Benfica: “The Dragão gives extra lift” | OneFootball

Pablo Rosario is preparing for his third Clássico for FC Porto, against Benfica this Sunday, with the Estádio do Dragão at the heart of the build-up. The Dominican midfielder spoke about the scale of the clash, the need to maintain the team’s identity, and the importance of support he considers decisive. Speaking about Porto’s home ground, he made one thing clear and assured: “Playing at the Dragão gives the team extra strength.”

Now in his second season at FC Porto, Pablo Rosario heads into another meeting with Benfica after a campaign of adapting to the club and to Francesco Farioli’s demands. The message running through his words is clear: in a big game, the answer is not to abandon the work and the ideas the team has been building.

Asked about the particular weight of a Clássico and the home factor, the midfielder refused to treat the match as an exception to the rule. He acknowledged the stature of the opponent and the lift from the stands, but pointed to staying true to the team’s own identity as the way forward.

“I wouldn’t say it’s specifically different, but we naturally know it’s a big game. We’re playing at home, so the support from our fans is going to be incredible, as always,” he said. “Playing at the Dragão gives the team and everyone involved extra strength. You could say it’s a different kind of game, but we’re not going to do anything differently. What works for us is staying true to ourselves, and that’s what we’re going to do again.”

Rosario also looked back at last season’s clashes between FC Porto and Benfica, matches in which he felt the team was present and competitive, even if the outcome was not what they wanted. For him, the memory serves less as regret than as a reference point for what he believes should be repeated.

“I think they were two games in which we played very well and were really in the match. Of course, the result wasn’t what we wanted, but they’re big games and we’re very excited to play them again,” he said. “(…) As I said, we have to stay true to ourselves, do what we know we have to do, and continue the work we’ve always done. I think that’s the key to this game.”

The Dragão atmosphere also returned to the midfielder’s remarks as a force that is felt before and during the game. More than just a backdrop, Rosario describes the fans’ support as something capable of lifting the team.

“A fantastic atmosphere, as always. Anyone who has watched the matches we’ve played at the stadium so far understands the atmosphere there,” he said. “Feeling and seeing the support of our fans gives us extra strength.”

Between the demands of a Clássico and the energy from the stands, the idea remains consistent: FC Porto must look for what makes it recognizable. Rosario sees that continuity as the key to facing Benfica.

When he arrived at FC Porto at the start of last season, he found a new club and a new system, but also an important advantage: previous knowledge of Francesco Farioli’s ideas. The midfielder highlighted the coaching staff’s attention to detail and the clarity with which the players take to the pitch.

“It’s not always easy for a player to arrive at a new club and adapt to a new playing system. I was lucky to already know the way he likes to play and what he demands from the players, which helped me adapt much more quickly than would normally be the case,” he explained. “(…) Farioli and his coaching staff are always looking to improve, both themselves and the team, and they place enormous importance on details. That means we, individually and collectively, are extremely attentive to the small things. We go onto the pitch with a clear idea of what we want to do and stay focused on the execution. It’s very rewarding to see that, when the game starts, the things we’ve worked on happen and work.”

In Rosario’s words, the daily work gains value when it becomes visible on the pitch. His individual adaptation is therefore linked to a collective level of demand that seeks to turn preparation into execution.

Finally, the Dominican international spoke about FC Porto’s return to the Champions League, underlining the club’s historic weight in the competition. His enthusiasm for being back in Europe was expressed without hesitation.

“I think the numbers speak for themselves. We are among the five clubs with the most appearances in the competition, so that’s a fact. We’re very happy to be playing in the Champions League again.”

From the midfielder’s perspective, the club’s return to the tournament is a confirmation of FC Porto’s historic connection to Europe’s elite. Between the Dragão and the Champions League, Rosario points to challenges in which ambition must be answered on the pitch.

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