FC Porto secured their place in the Round of 16 of the Portuguese Cup after beating SU Sintrense in the fourth round (3-0), and Francesco Farioli “couldn't be happier with the performance” of a team that “started a new block of games with the right energy”. “This game proved, once again, the attitude and mentality that this group has”, acknowledged the Italian coach, already focused on “preparing for the game against OGC Nice, a very strong opponent with great individual quality that will demand the best from FC Porto”. 

On the right track
“This game proved, once again, the attitude and mentality that this group has. We approached the game with a very good pace, we tried to keep some distance between us to maintain the tension of the ball at the right speed. I am very happy to have Luuk de Jong back and I couldn't be happier with the team's performance. It was important to start this new block of games with the right energy.”

Credit where credit is due
“The opposition prepared very well for the game. Their plan was clear: keep both forwards up front to play on the counterattack. The game was very well prepared strategically on our part and we knew how to take advantage of the right moments to break the deadlock. We tried several short combinations that didn't work out by a few centimetres, but we tried to break the deadlock the way we wanted to. I don't have the statistics yet, but I think we made more than 800 passes today, which says a lot about our desire to be connected. These games can be difficult and even boring, as they sometimes don't live up to expectations, but today's game was enjoyable for the fans because there were a lot of shots and combinations. We are in good form and now we are going to prepare for the game against OGC Nice.”

Team management
“When we picked the starting eleven, we thought about the next game, but we also couldn't forget that this was the first game after the international break. Victor Froholdt is dealing with a minor injury and Jan Bednarek hasn't recovered yet, so we had to manage the team. I'm happy with the 90 minutes played by Gabri Veiga and Martim Fernandes. There were many positive aspects, but it's time to turn the page and focus on the Europa League with great attention. We're going to play against a very strong opponent with a lot of individual quality, and we have to be at our best.”

From the Cup to Europe
“We are doing well in set pieces in the league, but we need to improve in the Europa League. We have to do better. Of course, when we play in the Europa League, we face more physical opponents and we know it will be a challenging game. We have to be prepared.”

Deniz Gül as a winger
“It's something to consider in the near future. All our forwards deserve a chance. Deniz Gül is gaining more and more credibility and earning more playing time in the squad. He just scored a goal for Turkey and is in good form, but Samu and Luuk de Jong also deserve credit, and it's up to us to find solutions. It's a good problem to solve.”

The return of Luuk de Jong
“I'm very happy to have him back after about ten weeks. It's good for the group and for Luuk himself too. Today he proved once again that he has great leadership skills, not only technically, but also in moments when he could have shot at goal and decided to try to find a way to pass to a teammate.”

On four fronts
“Playing in different competitions is a very good stimulus. This team always behaves the same way in training, regardless of the opponent that follows. Just this week I saw the group working very hard, I couldn't ask more of the players, now the challenge is to maintain this mentality and carry it over to every game. I am very grateful for the work they have done.”

Mora and Gabri side by side
“It's a possibility and it's always good to have them both on the pitch because it adds quality to the game. Playing with two number 10s requires a lot of sacrifice and adaptability from both of them, but it's a solution we have to consider. It was good to test it out today and it's something that could happen again.”