FC Porto beat Casa Pia (4-0) at home, in matchday three of the championship, and Francesco Farioli praised the players’ “fantastic approach”. Although the team showed “intensity and patience at the right moments”, the Italian coach argues that “there is still much to improve” and makes no secret of his desire to “keep evolving”, have “all the players recovered and playing at a good level” and “continue the process” that he has been putting into practice “since day one”.

Good feelings
“I'm happy, our approach was fantastic, we read the game well, we showed intensity, we were patient at the right moments and we managed to create opportunities. In the second half we lost some intensity, we continued to work well with the ball, but we didn't create as much as I think we should have. There is a lot to improve. It was a good result and we want to keep evolving.”

Squad management
“I wanted to finish the game with eleven players. In a game where we were winning 3-0 at half-time, we already had three important players on yellow cards, and I tried to manage the game to protect them. A couple of fouls could have cost us dearly.”

Return of Francisco Moura
“He played 45 minutes during the week and did well. He is an important player for the team and needs to recover. Next week we have the last game before the international break, but after that we will have many more games and we want them all to be recovered and playing at a good level.”

Pepê's absence
“It was bad luck. He took a ball to the eye and hurt himself, but the damage will be assessed in the coming days. The good thing is that William did very well. From the moment he came on, he got into the rhythm, scored the goal and brought a lot of energy and spirit to the pitch. It proves that the team is above everyone else. Pepê's injury is very recent, and the medical team still needs to assess whether or not he will be available next week."

The road to the classic
“I have different feelings from the last few games. They weren't easy challenges, we made them look that way because the players really had the right approach, but it's important to give consistency to the work we've been doing since day one. Even with the good results and goals scored, there is still a lot to improve and we have to do it quickly. We have six days to prepare for the classic and to continue our process.”

Farioli's philosophy
“There are many ways to play football, but I often say that football is a matter of taste and depends a lot on what we like or dislike seeing. It's a game of risks, but also of rewards, and in my opinion, no style is better than another. I've always liked having aggressive teams that adapt to all scenarios. In general, I like them to be aggressive, not afraid of duels and challenges, courageous and playing with spirit. This applies to both defence and attack so that we have the perfect combination. Physical condition is crucial for me, and I believe that to be a great player, you have to be a great athlete, because modern football demands it.”

Luuk de Jong
“He gave a masterclass to help us find combinations. He played a spectacular game defensively for the full 90 minutes, and I remember him sprinting from one area to another and recovering the ball. Seeing a player who is almost 35 years old and has a career full of titles showing this mentality is an example and a lesson for the younger players.”

Alberto Costa and Zaidu
“They are both fine. Alberto felt some pain, and in Zaidu's case, it was my decision to give Francisco Moura some playing time.”

William Gomes at the start
“I haven't changed my opinion of him. He always had a strong impact in every game, even friendlies, but today he proved that he can also start games. I don't think I'm the only one who loves his intensity and spirit.”

The third team
“Yesterday I said I preferred to avoid talking about the referees, but I must admit I was a little apprehensive about the dynamics of the game. When this happens and affects our decisions during the game, we are afraid of what might happen, because of the pace at which cards are shown. We risk having a player suspended when that is something we don't want.”

A happy marriage
“Football is a game of mistakes, and whoever makes fewer mistakes has a better chance of winning at the end of the game. The most important thing is to know how to react and continue playing with energy. For me, it is a privilege to play in front of 50,000 people who cheer at every duel. Take Victor Froholdt, for example, this is the third time he has left the pitch to a standing ovation. We are seeing this more and more. Every time William presses with energy and speed, we feel the stadium like this. This is what we need. We are still at the beginning of our journey, but the fans have been very important since day one. They helped us overcome the difficulties of last season, but now it is up to us to continue working and showing commitment to keep the stands full.”

The team comes first
“Everyone is important, but the team comes above all else. The Club is the most important thing. I tolerate some technical errors, but my limit is a lack of attitude and commitment. I demand a lot from my players and try to teach them everything I know. Everyone has exceeded expectations and that is what we want to continue doing.”

Eyes set on Alvalade
“Winning is always important, and not conceding goals is fundamental to winning. We have six days to prepare to play at the current champions’ home, and it will be a very important test for us. We will see what shape we are in and what we can improve. It is a classic, and these games are always special, so our approach has to make a difference. We respect everyone, but we want to be at our best in terms of spirit and behaviour.”