Farioli reshapes FC Porto after Samu injury | OneFootball

The prolonged absence of Samu due to a serious injury, the progression of Rodrigo Mora, and the influence of Seko Fofana, combined with a period of less offensive effectiveness, lead Francesco Farioli to test new procedures and solutions at FC Porto. This does not imply giving up principles he considers essential, such as the balance of a team that rarely loses control of the game. Let's break it down.

Without Samu until the end of the season, the dragons are deprived of a player who, besides scoring goals, played an important role in ball distribution and linking up with the attack. In individual training at CTFD Jorge Costa, the striker worked on aspects such as receiving, ball control, and passing, being sought by the team to activate the front supports offered by midfielders and wingers. A demanding task, sometimes thankless and almost always with defenders "on his back." Deniz Gul, who currently is ahead of Terem Moffi—since the Nigerian still needs to regain physical form—can associate with teammates in various ways, but Farioli's technical team believes there is room to test other solutions.

As for Rodrigo Mora, his evolution is recognized by everyone, from the player himself to the coach, and the midfielder is ready for new demands. Number 86 has already played the role of a false 9, an option reconsidered in the absence of Samu, although it is likely that Mora will maintain his presence on the left flank. The wingers have many meters to cover, and Farioli has already highlighted the responsibility of Borja Sainz and Pepê in the team's excellent defensive record, but Mora has also progressed in this area, with a visible effort without the ball in the classic, including a decisive clearance in Diogo Costa's area. On the other hand, Rodrigo's ability in the opponent's area—both through individual talent and combinations with teammates—can elevate the attack to another level. In the eight games since the beginning of the year, only five of the 12 goals came from the most advanced elements, with two of Samu's resulting from a penalty and a mishap by Santa Clara's goalkeeper.

In the classic, interestingly, the goal play involved, among others, three players coming off the bench: Deniz Gul, Mora, and Fofana. As O JOGO anticipated, entering the classic was part of the plans and was a step away from perfection, but the midfielder's impact on the team goes beyond the goal. The Ivorian, whom Farioli has already pointed out as a potential "key player," will continue to work on his physical condition and is a strong candidate for a starting position in very little time, especially considering that Gabri Veiga has not been in an inspiring moment. Fofana, 30, presents some versatility—between defensive balance and reaching the area—and brings the experience of hundreds of games in the Italian and French championships. This maturity can prove decisive as the season's decisions approach.

Adjusting the machine midway through the construction process

Throughout the season, Farioli has often contextualized the situation and recalled how FC Porto was not long ago out of the title race and with defensive weaknesses. The reality has changed thanks to a profound transformation of the team, but this transition takes time and now requires adjustments. The winter reinforcements can be decisive and have already directly contributed to important points, as happened with the penalty won by Oskar Pietuszewski in Guimarães (0-1) and with Fofana's goal in the classic (1-1). The Polish winger remains an option to consider, but, at 17 years old and in his first experience away from home, Farioli does not want to rush stages in his evolution.

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