Farioli: Famalicão tough at home, only one goal conceded | OneFootball

After the draw against Utrecht in the Europa League, FC Porto is looking to return to winning ways. Francesco Farioli gave a preview of the match against Famalicão, corresponding to the 11th round of the Primeira Liga.

«There are only a few hours between games, but everyone’s work, the professionalism of the players, and the work done away from the spotlight is fundamental. Preparation is all about the details. We tried everything to be ready for the match. It will be a demanding game, as they have all been since Hugo took charge of the club. Famalicão’s home games are tough—they have only conceded one goal at home so far».

«I praise the opponent. They are in a good moment. We are too, but with a tight schedule. We’ve played many away games as well. We want to win every match, but sometimes that demands something extra. In recent games, we’ve had to play differently. Against Braga, we tried to control the game, often without the ball; against Utrecht, we played well with the ball and had good moments of build-up. We need to improve—the process is far from perfect. We have to be better».

«Two strikers as a solution? It’s both tactical and physical. When Deniz Gul came off against Utrecht, he was tired. It’s physical and tactical. I decided to keep Gabri Veiga on the pitch; for me, he was the best player on the field. We felt we had less presence in the box at the start, but we had players arriving and combining in tight spaces. There were moments when both played, even if Deniz was used as a winger. Different scenarios depending on the moment in the game».

«Winning games in the last minutes? The game lasts 90 minutes. Scoring in the 1st or 90th minute is the same. We need to manage expectations better. We started with a good run of games that raised expectations sky-high, and winning 2-0 or 3-0 became seen as normal. It’s not like that. Games are complicated. Some are unlocked early, but you have to compete until the end. There’s a narrative being created. Our rivals, the media. Everyone wants to put FC Porto down. For me, this is a moment for unity. We can flip the switch in a positive way. We have to be like a family. La Famiglia Portista. In that state, we can compete against anything and anyone. We need our fans, both away and at home».

«Loss of identity? No. You can read it as decisions made before the game. What we want to do is clear, it’s what we train for. We want to be dominant with the ball, aggressive without it, play in the opponent’s half, press high. During the game, different scenarios can arise. A big team has to have the ability and humility to change its approach. Against Braga, we recovered balls that, with better transitions, would have led to goals. The way they played forced us to defend deeper. Identity is a word that can’t be rigid. We have to be chameleonic and able to adapt. All studies say that the team that succeeds is the one that can adapt».

«Set pieces? Famalicão is a team that has scored 50% or more from set pieces. They have quality in open play, Sorriso and Gustavo can create threats. On set pieces, they are dangerous. We tried to study the different combinations and we have to be prepared. The goal we conceded against Utrecht is an opportunity for us to be on alert. We have to defend well».

«Rodrigo Mora and Gabri Veiga together? It’s a scenario. It could happen. Our midfield is adaptable. Pablo Rosario is a 6 and can play as an 8, Eustáquio is an 8 and plays as a 6, Rodrigo is a 10, Gabri is an 8/10. It’s possible for them to play together. The priority is to balance the team. Different pieces in the same position aim to gain something, but we have to think about the possibilities».

«Luuk de Jong is working hard, the medical department is working hard. He has already trained on the pitch with a positive reaction. There is some pain, which is normal. After the break, he will train with the team and we’ll see how he reacts».

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