Rotation? I give everyone a chance to make me rethink the starting eleven… | OneFootball

Francesco Farioli once again emphasizes the importance of squad management and reinforces that FC Porto is ambitious to compete for and win every trophy. The coach does not rule out the possibility of playing with two left-footed center-backs (Kiwior and Prpic) and highlights the role of the B team and the under-19s in the club's development and future:

Squad management in light of a tight schedule

“To be a club of this size, we go into every competition to win and fight for titles. We have to win matches between those achievements and we have to manage that because the season is long. Now, it’s necessary to have competitive starting elevens. We have a very balanced squad, except in the positions where we lost two players due to injury (Nehuén Pérez and Luuk de Jong). All the others haven’t had serious problems, apart from muscular or contusion injuries. The truth is that FC Porto played in the Club World Cup and that’s an important factor. We made some changes to the squad according to our needs, but the most important thing is the players’ work during the week and the confidence they give me. I want to constantly give players the opportunity to change my starting eleven.”

Kiwior and Prpic together in central defense?

“I’m not a fan of playing with two left-footed center-backs, it’s more of a mental thing than anything else. Of course, it’s a possibility we consider, especially because in the next match Bednarek is suspended and it’s time for everyone to be ready. Rosario can play there too and all are possibilities. Prpic has played less than Kiwior, but every time he comes on he puts in good performances and the fans like him for his character and what he does on the pitch. I’m sure he’ll have his opportunities soon, he’ll be ready to defend the team.”

Is João Teixeira the most prepared youngster to play for the first team?

“I’m always excited to see what happens with the B team and the under-19s. I did this in the past and it’s important to do it at the club. Developing young talent is vital for FC Porto and for preparing the future. We are connected and follow all the teams closely. There are people on the staff who give us this information and I’m impressed with João, he’s a midfielder with good technique but also physically strong. For all the players who dream of playing for the first team, it’s natural that everyone has to work and that’s the part where I’m most demanding.”

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