Porto fans unhappy with defeat but back Francesco Farioli all the way 💙 | OneFootball

After the defeat against Casa Pia, the blue and white universe questioned yesterday the competitive moment of FC Porto, a sentiment visible on the dragons' social networks and fueled by the discomfort on the eve of the reception to Sporting, which reduced the lead of the first place from seven to four points.

Francesco Farioli, despite the trust credit earned so far, something highlighted by several fans, found himself at the center of criticism, especially for some choices regarding the starting eleven and the substitutions made during the game, notably the non-use of Rodrigo Mora. The explanation he presented – “The idea was to have Rodrigo on the field, but we had to substitute Martim due to a foot injury, which changed the plan” – did not stop the criticism.

One of the criticisms was directed at the fact that Rodrigo Mora has characteristics that, with FC Porto constantly pressing Casa Pia, could have helped to disorganize the opponent's defense with his technique and vision of the game, something that none of the teammates on the field managed to offer effectively. The opinion gained strength because Froholdt, who showed fever symptoms and ended up out of the starting eleven, was preferred as a bench option to come in.

Another contested decision was placing Jakub Kiwior on the bench, after the choice to move him to the left-back position following Thiago Silva's arrival was criticized. Alongside his compatriot Jan Bednarek, the Polish international had been praised for his high-level performances and the solidity he offered to FC Porto's defense, forming an almost unbeatable duo known as the ‘Polish wall’.

Kiwior's removal from the center of defense has been subject to remarks and even revived among Porto fans the ghost of 2019, when coach Sérgio Conceição dismantled the Felipe/Éder Militão duo, then solid in the defensive axis of leader FC Porto, to include Pepe. Militão was moved to right-back, the rear lost stability, and the title ended up at Luz.

The defeat in Rio Maior was the first in the championship and, by itself, would not justify great alarm among Porto fans. The concern is related to the fact that the team's performance level has decreased in the new calendar year: the offensive production has significantly reduced, and in three of the last four matches, the dragons conceded the first goal, only managing to recover the result in the game against Rangers. Therefore, the outcome of the classic with Sporting will naturally have an impact on the future.

Even so, FC Porto fans continue to fully support the coach, recognizing the substantial improvements implemented since last season.

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