FC Porto beat Arouca (4-0) despite being reduced to 10 men in the 48th minute, and Francesco Farioli praised “the team's fantastic reaction to Martim Fernandes' sending off”: “We managed to compensate with and without the ball, we were very good on second balls and the spirit was always there. It was important to score the 2-0 and 3-0 right after the sending off because it helped us gain confidence”. After the first of three games in a week, the Italian coach acknowledged that it was “a good first step”, but recalled that it is time to “start preparing to host Red Star with the mentality, spirit, and desire we had tonight.”

On the right track
“I prefer to play 11 against 11, but the reaction to Martim's sending off was fantastic. We managed to compensate with and without the ball, we were very good on second balls and the spirit was always there. We didn't concede any goals and that's spectacular. The players deserve to celebrate, but they know that as soon as we leave this stadium, today's game is over and we have to start preparing to host Red Star with the same mentality, spirit and desire we had today.”

Quick reaction
“It was important to score the second and third goals shortly after the sending off, as that helped us gain confidence. I'm happy for Deniz Gül, he deserved a goal and always came on very well. Of course, I could mention them all, because they all played well. It was very good, now we have to prepare for the game against Red Star and we'll do that starting tomorrow with our feet firmly on the ground and the desire to move forward.”

Martim's sending off
“Football is made up of mistakes, it happens, and Martim showed that he was very sorry. I've already told him that there's no need to apologize, because the two situations in which he received yellow cards were situations involving the ball that are part of football.”

Samu's injury
“It's just a little tendinopathy and inflammation. He sprinted a lot and then stopped. Stopping a body like his causes overload, but I think he'll be fine soon. I saw him running a lot to celebrate the second goal. Everything should be fine.”

The postponement
“If we had played yesterday, we would have made different decisions, and we don't know how it would have gone. We played on one of the best pitches in the league, so I want to congratulate FC Arouca, who played very well and didn't make it easy for FC Porto. What we did today seems normal, but it's extraordinary.”

The 12th player
“We don't have much time to celebrate because of our schedule, but having the support of the fans is fantastic. There were 2,500 fans traveling to Arouca to buy tickets for this game, and that's extraordinary. The effort they made was rewarded by the players. Let's keep going, and hopefully Estádio do Dragão will be full on Thursday. It was a good first step, now let's take the second.”

The flame of playing at home
“We showed the desire and fire that we are made of. We did it with 11 players, but somehow we still managed to raise the level when we were reduced to 10. The second goal was fantastic, because of the way it came about and how the group managed to compensate for the player who was missing. I liked the spirit and the way we defended until the last minute. This is the spirit, and they deserve to celebrate, but as soon as we get home, we have to focus on Thursday's game.”

Focus on Europe
“It's important to prepare well for the game against Red Star; that's our priority. In the Europa League, every goal, point, and game is important and can make a difference. We have a few days to recover from this great effort because we played with 10 men, which increases the intensity levels. We have to take the good energy from this game and manage our emotions to prepare for the next one with the necessary composure.”

Zaidu's goal celebrations
“It says a lot about the contribution each player can make to the team. Back in Salzburg, the goal started with pressure from Deniz Gül, followed by a recovery from Francisco Moura, a pass from Rodrigo Mora, a touch from Martim Fernandes, and the goal was scored by William Gomes - five players who came off the bench and were involved in the goal. This says a lot about the impact each one has. Today I'm talking about Deniz Gül, Zaidu, Alberto Costa, Pablo Rosario, and Prpic. They were fantastic, opportunities are just around the corner.”

Deniz Gül
“I have a lot of confidence in him. I've said it several times because I see his impact in training and especially now that he's been getting more minutes. He has everything it takes to play at the highest level, he is very physical and strong, and technically he is also very good. He just needs to believe in himself more, which is a very common problem among talented players. Today's goal is the perfect reward for what he has been doing in training. I hope he continues to grow and help the team as he has done so far.”