Farioli eyes only Tondela: “Focus on the Dragão, not Alvalade” | OneFootball

Francesco Farioli approached FC Porto vs. CD Tondela with one clear central idea: the I Liga title race will be decided at the Dragão, not from a distance, no matter how much noise comes from the Lisbon derby. In the preview of the 30th round, the Porto coach spoke about the title fight, the awkward profile of the opponent, and the team’s physical and emotional condition, with the season now entering its most demanding phase. And on the key point, he guaranteed: “we only depend on ourselves.”

Heading into another round of the league, with several fronts still open and the usual April pressure tightening around every decision, Francesco Farioli remained faithful to his message of control, ambition and internal focus. The FC Porto coach was not tempted by side calculations or external scenarios: the message running through the entire press conference was that of a team determined to own its own path.

Asked about the Lisbon derby and the impact that match could have on the title race, Farioli was direct, almost impatient with the idea of wasting energy on what he cannot control.

“I’ve already said it… for me, spending until tomorrow thinking about results would be a huge waste of time. What matters is that we’ve reached mid-April still in three competitions,” he said. “We’re in good positions and, in the league, we only depend on ourselves. We’ll keep going with our rhythm and our desire to be champions. Our focus has to be on the Dragão Stadium and not on Alvalade.”

It is the language of competitive discipline, turned more inward than sideways. Farioli does not ignore the context, but he refuses to turn the rivals’ schedule into a distraction for a team that, in his view, remains in a position to decide its own destiny.

When he turned to the opponent, the coach painted a picture of Tondela far removed from any idea of an easy game. The preparation, he explained, was aimed at understanding the team’s behavior and the kind of problems it can create.

“The analysis I received was to try to better understand Gonçalo Feio’s mentality. We are not expecting a team sitting in its own half, in a low block. They are a very aggressive team, with many man-to-man moments,” he explained. “You could see that in the game against Gil Vicente and Vitória SC. We have to be ready for different types of pressure. We’ve already played more than 45 matches and faced almost every scenario from opponents, but tomorrow we have to maintain our identity.”

In Farioli’s view, the challenge will not only lie in the value of the points, but also in the kind of game that can emerge from that aggression off the ball and that ability to press at different moments. The warning is clear: FC Porto will have to respond without giving up what it sees as its own core identity.

There was also room to look at Alan Varela and the way the midfielder has been appearing in more advanced areas, including in shooting situations. Farioli’s answer mixed methodological caution with recognition of his players’ individual traits.

“To be honest, I’m not a big fan of long-range shots — not because I don’t like them, but because they’re harder to execute. There are exceptions, depending on the quality of the players in that area of the game. We have Varela, Fofana and Gabri Veiga…,” he said. “The shot Varela took the other day was very good and a good decision. It’s not something I train much; it has more to do with his natural qualities.”

Rather than claiming it as a pattern worked on in detail, the coach preferred to highlight the reading of the play and the talent of the man executing it. The idea is revealing of the way he balances structure and freedom: there are principles, but also room for individual quality to emerge when the context demands it.

On the team’s emotional and physical condition, Farioli returned to a point he considers decisive at this stage of the season: collective connection. He did so by using the most recent match as proof of resilience and commitment.

“I’ll say it again… The game the other night, when we were reduced in numbers, proved that we are all in very good physical condition. The team is very connected. As you know, we share a lot of energy and a lot of minutes,” he stressed. “Everyone is hungry and has the right spirit. Physically, the work of the last few months has been very positive. We are in mid-April, with the possibility of winning, and it is time to finish the job.”

In the coach’s words, you can sense a team still standing at a moment when fatigue usually exposes weaknesses. The insistence on shared energy, hunger and connection points to a group that wants to be ready for the final push.

As for matches against teams involved in the relegation battle, Farioli rejected the temptation to inflate the weight of the schedule just because the finish line is getting closer. His respect for Tondela appeared here tied both to the standings and to what the team has shown on the pitch.

“The points matter now, but they also mattered in September. Now we have the perception that games are worth more, but there are still three points at stake. In Tondela’s case, they have fewer points than they deserved… they should be higher up the table,” he acknowledged. “Their performances have shown quality in several matches and we will respect that.”

It is a way of lowering the temperature without downplaying the tension of the moment. Farioli handled the context with the calm of someone who knows April brings pressure, but he insisted on the idea that marked the whole press conference: fewer outside calculations, more identity, more focus, and more responsibility of their own.

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