Farioli: "Recent days have been tough, the dressing room is in shock" | OneFootball

Francesco Farioli highlights the resilience of Samu and believes that the Spanish forward will return stronger from the injury that keeps him off the field until the end of the season. The FC Porto coach still maintains confidence in Deniz Gül's ability to fill the goal-scoring gap left by the team's top scorer this season.

Absence of Samu and Opportunity for Deniz Gül

«The last few days have been difficult for us; these are news that leave the locker room in shock and everyone who loves football. I received many messages from people from other clubs asking about him. Samu is a strong guy. The next day, he was here with us, already with a big smile. My conversation with him will remain private, but what he told me and what he said to his teammates speaks volumes about him. The only thing we can do is stay close to him, wish him a good surgery and recovery. I'm sure he will be able to maximize this difficult moment to prove himself, and when he returns, he will be even better. He was already a great man, with human and football qualities. He will be even stronger than yesterday.»

«We are going to lose a key player, no doubt. On the other hand, not just because of what happened with Samu, but I have already proven my confidence in Deniz [Gül] and his qualities. It's a very important opportunity for him and I have zero doubts that he will seize it. He has all the characteristics to take on the role and carry the weight on his shoulders. He is a very technically gifted number nine, physically he is a monster. Now, it's a matter of finding continuity and confidence. He has the support of the team and the club, the fans love him, so we hope he hears his song – which I really like – many times in the coming months.»

Physical Condition of Moffi

«Terem is working very well. Before coming to the conference, we were reviewing with the performance department and he has shown very significant physical improvements in recent days. His body fat index is now at the level of elite players and he is giving everything he has, with a great attitude. He is very well integrated into the team and I think tomorrow he will be part of the game, whether in the starting eleven or coming off the bench. But tomorrow will certainly be his day. And from there… We are at a point where we will need his contribution.»

«We had the worst-case scenario. Having two number nines with serious knee ligament injuries is a rare event. And the club did a magnificent job in providing the right solutions. With Deniz and Moffi to finish the season, as well as Luuk and Samu as great fans cheering us on, to be where we want to be.»

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