Farioli: Positive results don’t make us relax, we stay alert | OneFootball

This Saturday (8:15 PM, RTP1), at the Estádio do Dragão, FC Porto begins a "very long block" that will require "work" and "a very high demand," making it "a good moment for the fans to support the team." In the fourth round of the Portuguese Cup, Porto will host SU Sintrense, from the Campeonato de Portugal – the same opponent from the third round in 2021/22 and 2024/25 – and Francesco Farioli requested that "the respect the opponent deserves" be given, reminding that Sintrense has already "eliminated Vizela and Rio Ave" and "came back in both games."

The coach informed that, "in terms of injuries, Bednarek is still recovering from the problem he had in Utrecht that caused his substitution in Famalicão and we now also have Victor Froholdt, who returned from the national team with some complaints," and also announced that Luuk de Jong "will certainly have minutes" and that "Cláudio Ramos will be the starter."

Speaking about the management of the three forwards in the squad, the Italian coach mentioned it as a "good problem" and emphasized that he will seek to "find different possibilities to explore their potential," one possibility being "using Deniz Gül on the wing" and another "playing with two forwards." He added that this is also "work to be done" at the Olival training center, described as "a private place, far from everything, where the network is not very good, the television doesn't work well," and that both the technical team and the players are "very demanding, starting with a great captain who demands more of himself and his colleagues every day, but also by the other players who are leaders." He stated: "Positive results do not make us relax. We are always alert to the aspects we need to develop in a block that will be very long. We are focused on this to improve every day."

Sintrense, the return home, and injuries“Last season is already behind us, this is a new chapter and we have to give the opponent the respect they deserve. They have already eliminated Vizela and Rio Ave, in both games they were losing and turned it around, they are organized and we have to be ready to compete. Of course, playing at home after a period of many away games is important, it's a good moment for the fans to be with us and support us in this block full of games so we can continue our journey. In terms of injuries, Bednarek is still recovering from the problem he had in Utrecht that caused his substitution in Famalicão and we now also have Victor Froholdt, who returned from the national team with some complaints and we are managing him, already thinking about the duel with OGC Nice.”

Luuk de Jong“He will be in the squad. He started training with the team at the beginning of the week, first partially and then at one hundred percent. He had no setbacks with his knee, he did great work in aerobic terms thanks to his dedication and the work of the technical team. Tomorrow he will certainly have minutes.”

The opponent coach's praises“There isn't much to teach. I didn't see the conference, but I appreciate the compliments. There aren't many secrets, my career also started from the bottom, at the lowest possible level of football, and my journey has brought me great experiences. The only secret is to work hard and know people who trust you and give you the opportunities you deserve.”

A "good problem" upfront“I have already said what I had to say about Deniz Gül when he didn't have many minutes. He has great physical capacity, is very strong, fast, finishes well, works well without the ball and is very intelligent, so he has many good characteristics. He gained a different status in the group and we can trust him. It's good to have him back and it's good to have Luuk de Jong back. These are the good problems that all coaches like to have. It's up to me to find different possibilities to explore their potential. One of them is to use Deniz more on the wing. It's not his position, but he has the skills to play as a winger if needed. There is also the scenario of playing with two forwards, we consider that. It will be a good challenge to try to maximize the potential of our three forwards.”

Cláudio Ramos“Cláudio Ramos will be the starter.”

Maximum demand“I am always ready for criticism. We are very well here, we are in a private place, far from everything, the network is not very good, the television doesn't work well, so we focus on what we can control. We are working well, we are very demanding, both the technical team and the players, starting with a great captain who demands more of himself and his colleagues every day, but also by the other players who are leaders. The demand is very high in the group, at some moments in the games we were not at our best, but I think that is part of football when you play every 72 hours. It is part of our evolution that we have to continue in the coming weeks. What matters is the trajectory. Positive results do not make us relax. We are always alert to the aspects we need to develop in a block that will be very long: 19 weeks and 30 possible games. We have work to do and we are focused on this to improve every day.”

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