Francesco Farioli admits: reaching the cup final is a goal for FC Porto | OneFootball

72 hours after the triumph over Estrela da Amadora (3-1) in the 14th round, FC Porto returns to the Dragão to host FC Famalicão this Thursday at 8:45 pm, in the round of 16 of the Portuguese Cup (RTP1). In the preview of “a very open game between two teams that want to move forward,” Francesco Farioli acknowledged that “knockout games have a different flavor” and stated that he has a group “prepared for all scenarios,” emphasizing that “the motivation is to move forward” and that “whoever wants to reach the final has to win every game.”

“This game deserves all our attention and must be approached with the right attitude,” reinforced the coach, convinced that “winning football games at this level requires a lot of attention to the smallest detail” and the need for players “to be switched on from the start,” “prepared and very attentive at all times.” “This Club enters every competition with the desire to fight until the end and to compete for titles,” added the coach in the press room at CTFD Jorge Costa.

New duel in the queen of competitions“We’ve already faced Famalicão in the League and in one of the last pre-season friendlies, we know them well, they know us well too, and we have to take that into account. It’s a knockout game, so it has a different flavor. I expect a more aggressive opponent than the one we saw in Famalicão, for the league, because they are one of the teams with the best percentage of ball recoveries in the opponent’s half, they are fifth in the League in this parameter, and I expect them to maintain that approach. It will be a very open game between two teams that want to move forward.”

Mora and Veiga together?“It’s a possibility. Rodrigo can play as an 8, as a 10, as a winger, and has already played as a false 9. It’s possible for both to be on the pitch, either from the start or during the game, we’re open to both scenarios.”

Jamor as a goal“Reaching the final and winning the Cup is a goal for us and for Famalicão. Before we played them in November, I said I really appreciated their tactical organization, thanks to the coach’s work, and I see that they have very clear ideas both with and without the ball. Tomorrow’s game will depend a lot on their approach, on how they come to play at the Dragão, whether they will press high or play more cautiously, with deeper lines. It’s up to us to find the right response and the ideal solutions and to be switched on from the start until the 90th minute or longer, if necessary.”

Squad management“I won’t single anyone out because it doesn’t make sense. I prefer to focus on managing the team throughout the season. At a club like this, we enter every competition with the desire to fight until the end and compete for titles, which means we have to win the games we play. Of course, we have to manage the players’ workload because the season is long, but we also can’t manage too much because we need to have a competitive eleven and several players ready to come in. The truth is we have a very balanced squad, except for the positions where we lost two players to the medical report, but otherwise we are well covered. Of course, there may be more injuries during the season, but overall I think the whole team is ready to play and is above 92%, a fantastic statistic considering our schedule. The Cup is a good opportunity to rotate the squad, manage the group’s fatigue, and make some changes, always taking into account how the player performed during the week and the confidence I feel in him. I’ve given several opportunities and that’s very good.”

Kiwior and Prpic as center-backs?“I’m not a big fan of left-footed center-back pairings, but maybe that’s just my dogma. It’s a possibility we’re considering for the game in Alverca, because Bednarek is suspended, and this is the moment for everyone to be ready. I’ve already talked about the different possibilities, about Pablo playing as a center-back, about playing with two left-footed center-backs… these are options on the table and Dominik (Prpic) has played less than Kiwior, but whenever he plays he puts in good performances, he’s a player loved by the fans for his character, for the way he enters the pitch. He’s a soldier, he’ll have opportunities very soon and I’m sure he will defend the team as he should. With Kiwior alongside? It’s a possibility.”

Close watch on the B team“I keep an eye on what’s happening with the B team, because I was already used to doing so at other clubs and I think it can be important for the Club, because developing young talent is key for the future. We’re in sync on this, we follow the B team’s work and have some staff members who bridge the two teams and share information. I’m impressed with João Teixeira, he has a very interesting profile, good technical and physical ability, he’s very explosive, he has many qualities. Whether it’s João Teixeira, Bernardo Lima, or any other player who wants to debut in the first team, they really have to work and help the team when they train with us. We are very demanding. I’d like to highlight Ángel Alarcón’s evolution since the start of the season. When he arrived he wasn’t at the same pace, he went back to the B team and at a certain point I felt he was ready and, in a week, it seemed like something clicked and today he’s a player capable of helping the team, whether starting or coming on later, and he has everything to have a great career.”

Possible classic in the quarter-finals“The motivation is to move forward, because if we want to reach the final and celebrate winning the Cup we have to win every game. Until then we’ll have to face the best teams in the competition and tomorrow’s game is the most competitive so far, so we’re focused on it and we know it deserves all our attention and must be approached with the right attitude.”

Transfer market and reinforcements“We have more than 90% of our players ready to play and that’s incredible and says a lot about the professionalism of the players, the way the staff works, and the effort the medical team makes to get the players recovered. These are three key elements for our success. Still, we have the injuries to Luuk de Jong and Nehuén Pérez, both from contact, and this can continue to happen, so we’re working to see what we can do to make up for these absences. We have the ambition to make the team stronger and more balanced in the areas where we’re lacking. We can’t forget the players who are already here and working to earn a spot. That’s a message I want to leave for any players who might join this group: they have to come with the right mindset and the desire to help, to put the club’s interests above all else, and to show that they have the quality and characteristics needed to help the team and compete until the end.”

Containing the limitations of injuries“One of my responsibilities is to look beyond tomorrow’s game. I like to think about the next four or five games, to anticipate scenarios and manage physical and mental fatigue, because I want to have players fresh in their legs and minds and eager to compete. To work this way you need a group of players who understand the process, who accept my decisions and who make me comfortable thinking like this. We set out plan A, B, and C, but the most common is plan B, because there’s always an injury, a suspension, and everything changes when you move a piece of the puzzle. It’s always better to have more than one plan and, if necessary, we’ll be here to adapt. Weighing all scenarios, the focus is on tomorrow’s game and giving our best in the challenges ahead, because winning football games at this level requires a lot of attention to the smallest detail and we have to be prepared and very attentive at all times.”

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