“FC Porto are the team to beat, we fight anyone who'd topple them” | OneFootball

André Silva gave a lengthy interview to Sport TV, with the full broadcast scheduled for Sunday. Even so, in the first excerpts released in the meantime, the striker did not hide that the first few weeks since returning to FC Porto, after his contract with Elche ended, “have been magnificent.”

“It’s a dream come true once again, with a lot of ambition and a great desire to live it and keep enjoying it,” began the Portugal international, admitting that “a lot has changed” compared to 2017, the year he left the club where he was developed to join AC Milan for 38 million euros.

“It was nine years away. Nine years of experiences, of challenges, of getting to know myself and the world of football, which allow me to come home with more experience, with the same desire, and with dreams still to fulfill,” he continued, assuring that he does not regret the decision to return.

“It was the right decision, it was an indescribable moment for me. At first, it felt like I was still dreaming. It felt as though I was here at FC Porto only for a few moments, and then I would go back abroad. Now, I’m more settled and I’m happy,” he concluded, visibly pleased.

“Farioli is an FC Porto-style coach”

In the same interview, the 30-year-old striker had high praise for Italian coach Francesco Farioli: “I think he’s an FC Porto-style coach, he represents the club’s values very well. On top of that, he brings something unique in terms of personality, but I can say that he is very demanding, especially when it comes to the details.”

“He is also very strict about what he asks for, and I think he really seeks unity within the club, tactical unity, unity in work, so that we are one, on and off the pitch,” added André Silva, who has also played for Sevilla, Eintracht Frankfurt, Leipzig, Real Sociedad and Werder Bremen.

“We are the team everyone wants to beat”

Regarding his goals for this second spell with the Dragons, the Baguim do Monte-born player preferred not to set specific targets. Even so, he stressed that it is essential to leave the national title celebrations behind, since dragging them out would only help fuel the ‘fire’ of their closest rivals.

“What happened has happened, we’ve already enjoyed it, we’ve already learned from it. Now, we have to work twice as hard, give a little more than what was given last year, mainly because we are the team everyone wants to beat. We have the club’s honor to defend. We have to work for our pride, for ourselves, and against everyone who wants to take us off our perch,” he emphasized.

Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira just around the corner

Before wrapping up pre-season, FC Porto will still play two friendlies, against Aston Villa and São João de Ver. Then comes the eagerly awaited Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira clash, scheduled for August 1 at the Estádio Cidade de Coimbra, against Torreense.

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