Farioli on Famalicão’s quality on the ball: “We’ll need our best” | OneFootball

Previewing the return to competition, with Famalicão in good form, what do you expect? “It’s the first game after the international break, which is always complicated, because many players come back from important matches and with very high levels of involvement. The priority is to have everyone back. Their work was positive, but it was important to refocus on our reality and our dynamics. On the other side, Famalicão are one of the most consistent teams since Hugo Oliveira took charge. Their defensive solidity deserves special mention; they concede very few goals. I like watching them on the ball, they have clear patterns and good individual players, the centre-backs are comfortable in possession, the midfielders react well under pressure… It’s going to be a game that will demand the best version of us and the best attitude.”

It was a week of big decisions for some players with their national teams, and several were eliminated. How is their energy on returning? “Over the last ten days we’ve been apart, one group stayed here, and the B team and the under-19s helped maintain the level in training. We were waiting for the internationals to return. I followed Poland and Denmark, because I had four players involved. It was tough for them. Bednarek is a leader, he came back eager to compete for FC Porto. I told them that the others are young and will have many opportunities in the future, and Jan could also be at the next World Cup. As an Italian, I had bad feelings too.”

Italy missed out on the World Cup for the third time. What is the impact on Italian football? “Something will have to change, that’s for sure, after a defeat like this. The national team is part of the iceberg, but there is more to build. It doesn’t all have to be thrown away. Football changes quickly, and the new people who will be involved will have to be capable of turning things around and giving the new generation the opportunity to compete at the highest level.”

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