Francesco Farioli’s imprint on FC Porto’s record half-season | OneFootball

FC Porto have surged to 49 points from 51 under Francesco Farioli, and host Benfica in the Portuguese Cup quarter-final on Wednesday. According to L'Équipe, the Italian’s imprint has been immediate.

In Liga, Porto have conceded just four goals in 17 games, which supporters argue is effectively one due to one own goal and two deflections. They keep clean sheets in three of every four matches.

The swing from 38.5% wins in the first half of the year to 85.2% in the second has been stark. On Sunday Farioli extended to 2028, which he called a fantastic show of faith.

An ambitious summer brought signings including Jan Bednarek, Jakub Kiwior, Pablo Rosario and De Jong, funded in part by €110m from last year’s sales of Galeno and Nico Gonzalez. The style is a hyper-organised 4-3-3, control of the ball, and a Polish wall of Bednarek and Kiwior.

The squad have bought in, with captain Diogo Costa renewed to 2030, reportedly partly tied to Farioli’s presence. He still must disprove the half-season tag after Nice fell from 35 first-half points to 20, then his Ajax side saw a nine-point lead over PSV slip with five to play.

To guard against a repeat, president André Villas-Boas, a champion at 33, has added Thiago Silva, 41, on a six-month deal.

Source: L'Équipe