Farioli urges total focus: “We live in our blue bubble” | OneFootball

FC Porto coach Francesco Farioli said today that he wants to see his team shielded from “outside voices” over the final four matchdays, with the aim of holding on to 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 matchday 31.

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

“It’s an important game, historically complicated, but also because of the present moment. It’s a team fighting for important points at this stage of the season. They have patterns I like, a lot of work behind them, 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 game 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 something common to feel this support. We’re 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 evaluating a striker has to do with 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 in contention, Farioli confirmed, while Zaidu remains unavailable through injury, as do Samu, Luuk de Jong and Nehuén Pérez.

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

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