Pepê hails team spirit as key to FC Porto’s success | OneFootball

The evolution of FC Porto from one season to the next is evident. The Dragons are leading the league, have secured a place in the round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League, and have reached the semi-finals of the Portuguese Cup. Pepê took part in this transition and, in a conversation with Betano, clarifies the changes at the club, emphasizing, however, that adapting to the intense style of Francesco Farioli was not a simple task, at least in the initial phase.

“The most important thing, without a doubt, is the unity this group has. It’s what we all want: always more. I think that was fundamental for us to be able to follow this path, which has been incredible. No player is complacent. We are always looking for more, wanting to improve, seeking more results, more games, more victories and, consequently, to keep following this path.”

“This unity is fundamental for me to be able to get back to the football I’ve always played, which is always joyful, always playful, always having fun on the pitch. Not just me, but everyone else too. We came from a very tough, very difficult season, and I think we needed this, this unity, this collaboration with each other, always wanting to help and motivate more and more, so we can be at our best.”

“I knew I needed to be the Pepê I’ve always been. Last season, I ended up losing touch with my essence, especially on the pitch. That was one of the factors that led to my lower performance. I knew I needed to focus on what I had to do, on who I’ve always been, because if I was like that, with a calm, clear, and happy mind, doing what I love so much, I could help my teammates the way I am now.”

Demands set by Farioli

“It’s that desire for more. He’s a coach who doesn’t let us get comfortable, doesn’t let us be satisfied with a positive result or a good training session. He always wants us to seek improvement, to be at our highest level. And I think that’s very important for each of us to strive for: to perfect our qualities more and more. This has been shown game after game and is fundamental for us to keep growing.”

“The start was a bit difficult, with that high intensity throughout the whole game. At first, I admit it was tough, but we see that the results are very positive and all this effort was really worth it. And it’s also worth it because every day we try to perfect and improve these aspects more and more.”

“As I said at the beginning: I think this unity that we all have here with each other, and with the fans as well, is fundamental. We feel them closer to us every day and that’s important for us to want more and always be at our highest level. We always want to help our teammates and live up to what the fans expect. This unity is the main factor we have to keep achieving these great results.”

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