Farioli rings the changes: only two players have over 3,000 minutes | OneFootball

The squad management that Francesco Farioli has been implementing in recent weeks—clearly visible in the game the day before yesterday in Stuttgart, where the starting eleven underwent eight changes compared to the classic at Luz—has proven beneficial for FC Porto, which remains well-positioned in the three competitions they are fighting for until the end of the season. Compared to Sporting and Benfica, the Dragons currently have the advantage of having played fewer matches (40, against 42 for the Lions and 46 for the Eagles) and, on an individual level, the most utilized players in Porto's squad have fewer minutes than their counterparts in the rivals.

Excluding the goalkeeper Diogo Costa from these calculations, FC Porto has only one outfield player above 3000 minutes—the midfielder Froholdt (3030)—followed by Bednarek (2978) and the winger Pepê (2644) among the most used. At Sporting, there are four athletes with more than 3000 minutes: Trincão (3376), Hjulmand (3272), Luis Suárez (3206), and Gonçalo Inácio (3158). At Benfica, Otamendi is approaching 4000 minutes (3809) and, excluding the goalkeeper Trubin, there are still three outfield players with more than 3500 minutes: Samuel Dahl (3787), Pavlidis (3698), and Aursnes (3635).

Farioli has repeatedly stated that, for the type of football he intends—full of energy and maximum intensity—he needs “fresh legs,” and he will continue to prioritize this in upcoming matches, starting tomorrow with Moreirense, where another revolution in the blue and white starting eleven is expected (Martim Fernandes, Kiwior, Alan Varela, Froholdt, Gabri Veiga, Pepê, Deniz Gul, and Pietuszewski are expected to return to the starting lineup).

Then, he will again manage efforts in the second leg of the European tie, scheduled just three days before a crucial match in Braga, which could pave the way for FC Porto to win the national title. This will be followed by a two-week break for international commitments, a time that can be used for several squad members to recover, although this is not the case for players like Bednarek, Kiwior, or Froholdt, who are involved in the decisive playoffs for the 2026 World Cup qualification with their respective national teams (Poland and Denmark).

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