Villas-Boas praises Farioli: “Instant success only raised his standards” | OneFootball

In the latest edition of Dragões magazine, André Villas-Boas began by highlighting FC Porto’s internal merits, especially following the Super Cup triumph, before turning to their rivals.

“These are results that please us, but they do not allow for any distraction or euphoria. On the contrary, they oblige us to work even harder. The team has shown commitment, solidarity, discipline and the desire to meet the demands of every match, understanding that no victory automatically carries over to the next game,” stressed the president, before dedicating more specific words to Francesco Farioli: “Francesco Farioli has been decisive in this transformation. He arrived, quickly understood what FC Porto is, and knew how to unite the players around an idea, a method and a common goal. In a short space of time, he helped reverse the Club’s sporting direction, brought back the national title, won the Super Cup and created a relationship of belief with a group that recognises in him the technical competence, rigour, selflessness and human qualities to lead. Immediate success did not lessen his demands. It increased them. It is with that mindset that we are focused on winning the league title, the trophy we desire most and one we know requires a whole season of concentration, humility and work.”

Criticism of the League: “Unfortunately, the Portuguese competitions also began exactly where they ended last season. Once again, we found disgraceful pitches, unworthy of professional competitions, empty stands and television broadcasts that always seem to find the perfect angle to magnify the emptiness. All of this stands in contrast to promises bordering on pure science fiction, published in certain newspapers and opinion spaces, in which Portuguese football appears vibrant, modern, competitive and irresistible, as if their authors lived in a parallel reality. This is not about belittling our competitions, but rather about demanding more from those who organise and promote them. A League that wants to grow, internationalise and increase the value of its rights cannot accept unsuitable pitches, deserted stadiums and a spectacle that far too often falls short of the players’ talent. FC Porto will continue to stand up for a stronger, better organised and more credible Portuguese football, even when that demand bothers those who prefer to praise appearances instead of facing reality.”

Thanks: “To all those who criticise us, those who belittle us, those who turn every FC Porto decision into a suspicion and every success into a nuisance, we also offer a word of thanks. Don’t stop existing. You too play a leading role in the affirmation of Portugal’s greatest Club. You force us to stay alert, to explain ourselves better, to work harder and to remember every day that, for FC Porto, the path is rarely simple. While some seek to diminish us, we keep adding titles. While some build playbooks, we build teams. While some live off noise, we live off work, rigour and victory.”

Ode to FC Porto: “This is our ode to FC Porto. Not a song of rest or an empty celebration of what we have already won, but a declaration of commitment to everything we still want to conquer. We have started well, but we have only just started. The season will be long, difficult and full of obstacles. We will have to work harder, remain more united and once again show that the whole is always greater than the part. The past gives us pride, the present demands concentration from us and the future compels us not to give up on anything.”

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