Farioli: “We’re playing Benfica, not Mourinho” | OneFootball

Francesco Farioli, FC Porto’s coach, comments on Sunday’s match against Benfica, in which José Mourinho will be his opponent on the bench:

Preparation for the match

“We tried to prepare for the game with great attention. We watched the last four matches (of Benfica), but also some previous experiences, especially from the time Mourinho spent in England. We tried to decode what might happen. I wasn’t the only one to do this work as best as possible. We did our job and, tomorrow, we will play against a very good team, a Champions League team, that is coming here to compete at the highest level. We have to be prepared.”

Greeting between Mourinho and Farioli

“About the hug, I return it and, tomorrow, we will shake hands in person. As for the rest, there are many things that affect performance, everything has a certain importance. There are tactical aspects, but also personal ones, and the clubs’ own dynamics. There are many factors that mix in football. But tomorrow’s game is important for us, we have to be very well prepared. We trained today and, tomorrow, we will have the day to try to prepare for the game in the best possible way and to arrive at the match with the right spirit. That’s the most important thing, because every plan, without the proper ‘fire’, isn’t enough.”

“Tomorrow’s game has three possible outcomes. We have to give our best, knowing where we came from. Last season, the matches against Benfica cost Porto a lot. We conceded eight goals and only scored two. That shows the value of the opponent. We have to give our all to make the fans happy.”

“It’s an important match, we can’t deny it, but it won’t be decisive. There are still many games left, a lot can happen, and so, it will just be an important match.”

Mourinho as a reference

“We’re talking about one of the most successful coaches, who has won many trophies. His track record is incredible and he is one of the most special people in football. What he represents for football is clear. I’ve already said that he is a reference for me, he has all my respect. In recent years, he’s had experiences in several countries. He did an amazing job at Roma, where he won the Conference League. It’s a mix of feelings, but I know how difficult it is to compete in these environments. The priority is tomorrow’s match. We are going to play against Benfica, not against Mourinho. We have to keep our minds focused on the dynamics of the game. We have three, four, or even five scenarios that we can expect before and during the match. We have to be ready for everything, despite the few days we had to prepare.”

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