Rubens Júnior and Edmilson: “Pepê is vital for FC Porto” | OneFootball

Pepê has been one of the standout players at the start of the new season for FC Porto. After a forgettable 2024/25 season, the 28-year-old Brazilian winger seems to have rediscovered his best form under the guidance of Francesco Farioli, already scoring two goals in two games. The player's recovery has pleased Porto fans and also garnered praise from compatriots like Rubens Júnior and Edmilson Pimenta, who advocate for the athlete's "new life".

In exclusive statements to the Portal dos Dragões website, both Rubens and Edmilson emphasize that Pepê has always had the quality to be "fundamental" at FC Porto and applaud the way the number 11 of the dragons reversed a phase in which he was even on the verge of leaving.

“It's not a big surprise [this performance by Pepê]. He is a great player, as he proved here in Brazil, at Grêmio, and I was even surprised by the news that he could be leaving FC Porto. Players need a coach who supports them. With the coach supporting, the player will start to perform and now he is already performing”, begins Edmilson, a position shared by Rubens Júnior.

“At no time was Pepê at the end of his cycle at FC Porto. A player of Pepê's level can go through a difficult time. Players have to be patient and wait for the right time to return to good football. That's what happened to Pepê. He also went through the collective bad phase. When the team is not doing well, the players may not perform at their best. The important thing is that he recovered and is doing well again”, points out the former left back.

The role of Farioli

After a troubled relationship with Vítor Bruno, a coach with whom he publicly exchanged messages, Pepê has been one of the beneficiaries of the change in FC Porto's technical command. Also with Martín Anselmi he was far from his best performance, but the arrival, in July, of Francesco Farioli seems to have been crucial for the return to form of the Brazilian international.

“Pepê's qualities are there. He didn't forget how to play. He was always a starter with Sérgio Conceição and now Farioli is boosting his morale and supporting him. He is betting on him and the player sees this with good eyes. He realizes that the coach is supporting him and he will certainly perform much more. This start of his with two goals in two games… I think he can perform even more“, highlights Edmilson, who also emphasizes Pepê's "great character".

“I don't know if Pepê had any extra-football problem or if he had any specific problem with Vítor Bruno. It is necessary to understand why he went through this less good moment. He assumed that. And by assuming that, he proves that he is a great player and has great character“, praises the former Brazilian forward, who scored 30 goals in 85 games with the FC Porto shirt.

Rubens Júnior also values the change made by Farioli and points out that the negative period served Pepê to reflect and correct aspects that were affecting his performance.

“I think a difficult moment helps to grow not only players but anyone. It ends up making us reflect, correct some habits and look for something different. The player has to be irreverent, look for something new and reinvent himself. This type of period serves to reflect and recognize that something is not right. The great factor of Pepê, and that helped him return to his best football, was recognizing that he was not well and not clinging to excuses. Sometimes, players try to lean on something to justify the bad moment. He recognized that he was not well. This shows that he is mature and was willing to change the cycle, which happened”, emphasizes the former player who also wore the Vitória SC shirt in Portugal.

‘New FC Porto’ excites

Rubens Júnior relates the collective improvement of FC Porto with Pepê's higher productivity and considers that the Brazilian plays a central role in the team's dynamics.

“When I talk about Pepê, and I've told him, I say that when he is doing well the FC Porto team tends to perform more. He is a fundamental piece in the system of any coach. He is a very important player. He brings a different dynamic: creative, strong in one-on-one, attacks depth well, knows how to carry the ball well and knows how to manage the game well. If he plays well, the team will play well. He has this greater responsibility”, he says.

Edmilson is also excited about this 'new FC Porto' and admits that he did not like the image that the team left at the Club World Cup, when it was still led by Argentine Martín Anselmi.

“We can certainly talk about a FC Porto candidate for the title. FC Porto with this new coach has another face. I closely followed the FC Porto games at the World Cup [Club] and unfortunately that team was not a FC Porto-like FC Porto. Unfortunately, I have to tell the truth. Now, with Farioli, things are fitting and I am sure that this season FC Porto will fight for the title. As happens every year, FC Porto has to be a candidate”, concludes the former Brazilian winger, who also played prominently for rival Sporting.

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