Farioli demands full focus: “We live in our blue bubble” in title race | OneFootball

FC Porto coach Francesco Farioli said today that he wants to see his team shielded from “outside voices” over the final four rounds, with the aim of holding onto top spot and winning the Liga Portugal Betclic title.

At a stage when FC Porto lead the league by seven points over Benfica and eight over Sporting, although the ‘lions’ have played one game fewer, the Italian coach prefers to focus only on the clash with Estrela da Amadora, scheduled for Sunday.

“As I said after Tondela, we’re taking it step by step. We’re connected in our ‘blue bubble’, where the only outside voice we hear is that of the Porto family. We’re not doing the math, tomorrow [Sunday] it’s Estrela da Amadora, and then we’ll see,” he said at Olival, in the press conference previewing the trip to Reboleira for the 31st round.

Francesco Farioli also highlighted the demanding context he expects to find at the José Gomes Stadium, in Amadora, recalling the need for points of the ‘tricolor’ side, which is battling to stay in the top flight and currently sits in 15th place.

“It’s an important game, historically a difficult one, but also because of the present situation. It’s a team fighting for important points at this stage of the season. They have patterns I like, a lot of work has been done, and players with individual quality. We have to prepare well for the game, in a stadium with an atmosphere we know well. We have to approach the match with the right attitude,” he warned.

Farioli confident in the team’s spirit after cup elimination

Despite the recent elimination in the Portuguese Cup semi-finals on Wednesday against rivals Sporting, the Porto coach guarantees that the group still has the “right spirit” to face the upcoming challenges.

“The voice of the Dragão Stadium spoke very loudly, and it wasn’t the first time — it has been common to feel this support. We are focused on our work, on what we have to do, on our commitment to the club and the fans to give them what they deserve, that’s all that matters. We have the right energy and spirit for this final stretch,” he said.

As for the lack of goals from Deniz Gül and Terem Moffi since Samu’s injury in February, the coach acknowledged that it is an obvious fact, but once again praised both forwards.

“Of course, part of the assessment of a striker is linked to goals, and there has clearly been a lack of numbers, but they have made an important contribution. Deniz assisted Gabri Veiga against Tondela. Terem almost scored against Sporting. We have to keep doing things the right way and the goals will come,” he said.

Martim Fernandes is back among the options, Farioli confirmed, while Zaidu remains unavailable due to injury, as do Samu, Luuk de Jong and Nehuén Pérez.

Top of the Primeira Liga, FC Porto, with 79 points, visit 15th-placed Estrela da Amadora, on 28, in a 31st-round match on Sunday from 18:00, refereed by Hélder Carvalho, from the Santarém FA.

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