Right-back dilemma could have a surprising solution… | OneFootball

It is said that misfortunes come in pairs, and regarding FC Porto's right-back position at the start of this season, the saying is evidently true, much to the dragons' misfortune. After the injury of Martim Fernandes—who is only expected to recover in October—suffered during the opening match of the League against Vitória de Guimarães, it was Alberto Costa's turn to face a setback during last Sunday's training.

The full-back signed from Juventus is dealing with a muscle injury in his right thigh and will miss at least Saturday's (6:00 PM) home game against Nacional. Francesco Farioli is therefore forced to improvise for the match against the islanders and has already considered several alternatives, one of them unexpected for the less attentive.

Without Martim and Alberto, the only natural solutions are in the B team. In the training match against Lusitânia de Lourosa (2-2) at the start of the week, Pedro Lima was tested on the right side. In the secondary team, there is also Dinis Rodrigues, but the Brazilian on loan from Wolverhampton seems to have an advantage as he continues to train with the seniors. Nehuén Pérez was occasionally used more on the right side, as the coach himself admitted before the trip to Gil Vicente in the 2nd round, although Farioli tends to prefer the Argentine's continuity in the center. Still, there is another candidate for the position: Pablo Rosario, a player trusted by the blue and white coach.

The defensive midfielder, signed from Nice this summer, missed much of the preparation for tomorrow's game due to his service with the Dominican Republic national team, but he has two important arguments in the fight for the starting position. Besides having a deep understanding of Farioli's game principles—thanks to the 2023/24 season they both experienced at the French club—Rosario also masters the fundamentals of the right-back role. At Nice, with Farioli in charge, the player frequently played on the right flank, especially in the first half of the season.

This adaptability of the now number 13 of the dragons, who under the Italian coach's guidance in France also played as a central defender, was one of the factors that led Francesco Farioli to insist on his signing.

Between Thursday and this Friday, the FC Porto coach has time to refine the options—including Rosario—and decide who will replace Alberto Costa against Nacional. The decision is expected to be kept until close to the game time, with Farioli aware that, despite the delicate situation, he has capable alternatives to ensure solidity.

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