Rodolfo Reis: “Mora was never tried where he could create and score…” | OneFootball

Rodolfo Reis put Francesco Farioli in front of a tactical dilemma centered on Rodrigo Mora and the way the youngster has been used by FC Porto. The pundit argued that the player could produce more in advanced areas, questioned the space he is given within the team’s model, and dismissed the idea that midfield is his strongest territory. At the end of his remarks, he left a note of support for the coach and assured: “I’m happy.”

In a debate marked by interruptions and by his desire to make his point clear, Rodolfo Reis began by separating the admiration he says he has for Francesco Farioli from the criticism he wanted to make of Rodrigo Mora’s management. The message runs through his entire intervention: for the pundit, there is still an attacking version of the player that has not been fully explored.

Before getting into tactical issues, Reis made a point of stressing that his view does not come from opposition to the coach, but from his belief in the youngster’s potential.

“I’ve already said that I really like Farioli, but I also really like Rodrigo Moura.”

The starting point is the shape Reis identifies in Porto’s team, with wide players being asked to move into central areas. It is in that space, closer to goal and away from the box-to-box duties of midfield, that he believes there is room to test Rodrigo Mora.

“Here’s the thing, the football Porto play is a 4-1-2-3, right? And they play with wingers who aren’t really wingers,” he analyzed. “So they play with wide men.”

In the pundit’s reading, it is not just about moving a player to a different spot, but about understanding whether the role could free up his attacking qualities. That is why he directed the question to Farioli in an openly direct way.

“And I ask, why has Rodrigo Moura never been used in this position? This is a question I’m asking Farioli directly.”

Reis insisted on the idea of using him on a flank with inward runs, distinguishing it from the classic winger who looks for the byline. The doubt becomes stronger precisely because, in his view, that option still has not been tried.

“Why has this player, Rodrigo Moura, never, never, never played on a wing cutting inside? That’s it. Let’s go.”

The criticism becomes sharper when the discussion reaches midfield. For Rodolfo Reis, that is where Rodrigo Mora loses the distinguishing element he believes he shows when he appears up front.

“Rodrigo Moura, in midfield, is just another player. He’s not a transcendent player.”

The pundit contrasted that assessment with what he sees in the youngster when he plays in more advanced areas, where he believes his ability to unsettle opponents can take on another dimension.

“Whereas, on the front line, he is a player… He is the best player the rival game has. He is a game-changer.”

Near the end, Reis summed up his thesis: Farioli has still not exhausted Rodrigo Mora’s possibilities in attacking positions. The disagreement does not hide his expectation that the coach will find that solution within the model he has chosen for the team.

“I come to the following conclusion: Farioli hasn’t tried playing Rodrigo Moura in those positions I mentioned earlier. He still hasn’t explored everything Rodrigo Moura has to offer,” he summarized. “And what’s more, in my opinion, Moura has no place in midfield in Porto’s football. Because he isn’t a midfielder today, he wasn’t one yesterday, he isn’t one today, and he won’t be one tomorrow.”

The question is therefore tied to chance creation and finishing: what could happen if the player were placed in an area where he had fewer meters to cover and more space to make decisions in the final third?

“Moura playing in PP’s position, William’s position and all that, has never been tested, never been trained. And maybe in that position Moura would create scoring chances and score goals.”

It is a blunt challenge to Farioli, but one accompanied by a final declaration of confidence. Rodolfo Reis wants to see the experiment happen, without failing to hope that the coach stays on course.

“Ah, but I want to say one thing, Farioli. I’m very happy. Don’t speak any Portuguese and become champion.”

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