Samu backed by Porto after penalty miss, Farioli says he takes the next one | OneFootball

Samu was consoled and lifted by Porto team-mates after his penalty miss in Plzen, and he will remain the club’s first-choice taker. The forward left the pitch in tears but his status is unchanged.

According to O Jogo, head coach Francesco Farioli said the next penalty will again be Samu’s to take, speaking minutes after the match at Viktoria Plzen. Team-mates and staff told him there was no need to apologise.

He had also missed from the spot in Guimarães, a lapse covered by Alan Varela that did not stop victory. Thursday’s failed attempt may have denied Porto a turnaround on the night.

Now in his second season at Porto, Samu has worked to curb visible frustration, something addressed under Farioli. Demanding of himself, he can bristle even in activation drills, and colleagues reminded him of his decisive goals, with 19 in 30 games.

Off the pitch he is using every tool to perform. The forward wore sunglasses around Plzen that are blue-light blocking lenses, prescribed by a doctor to reduce fatigue and stress from screens and lights and to improve sleep, which can aid daily output.

The focus is on helping him reset emotionally after these two misses so he can respond in the next match against Gil Vicente.

Source: O Jogo