After a first 45 minutes in which it was possible to “do much better” against a “very well organised and disciplined CD Tondela”, there was a second half “with a different rhythm” in which “the first three minutes took the game in a different direction” and determined FC Porto's 12th victory in the League (2-0).

Having achieved “an important result” for the championship, Francesco Farioli explains that “there is nothing to manage”, because “this is not the time to do the math, just to add points and win games”.

The coach also addressed the injuries of Gabri Veiga - who “has made great progress in the last 48 hours” and “has another 72 to be ready for the game against Malmö” - and Luuk de Jong, a striker “who unfortunately will be out for the rest of the season”: “We will continue to have him around because, even without helping us as a player, he will be important in helping us grow as one of the leaders of the group. He will help Samu and Deniz Gül take a step forward in their careers”.

A return at full throttle from the break
“We started the second half at a different pace and the first three minutes took the game in a completely different direction. Then we tried to control it. We could have done much better in the first half. We didn't get to the second balls as much as we wanted, we lost a lot of duels and didn't get past them one-on-one. The first half didn't go as we wanted and that's what we have to keep working on, but it's an important result that allows us to continue our journey in the League.”

The differences between the first and second half
“CD Tondela were very well organised and disciplined. We have to congratulate the coach and our opponents for that, but there are other aspects such as personality and character that are non-negotiable, and in the first half we weren't at the level we should have been. In the second half, we started with intensity and a different pace, we scored from a set piece, we ran after the ball and recovered a ball that gave us the second goal. There is a difference between doing things well and doing them very well. It's slightly different, but it's not the same thing.”

Gabri Veiga
“He has made great progress in the last 48 hours, thanks to the hard work he has put in and the work of the Medical Department. They continued to treat him until 17h00, even on the bus. During the warm-up he still felt fine, but then the effect of the medication wore off and he started to feel discomfort, so we decided not to take any risks. He has another 72 hours to be ready for the match against Malmö. If he can't make it, another player will have the opportunity to come in and help the team.”

The advantage at the top of the league
“There's nothing to manage. Just pick up points and win games, stay focused on our journey. It's not the time to do the math.”

The mindset for the future
“As I said yesterday, I've never seen anyone win a title in December, so we have to stay calm and aware that there is a lot to improve.”

Focus on the Europa League
“Being the manager of FC Porto means wanting to win every game. There are no doubts, and we're not hiding from anything. Now we have to switch our focus to the Europa League, because on Thursday we have a very important game against a team that is going through a transition in management, so it's difficult to know what kind of solutions they will present on the pitch. There's a lot of work to do.”

Samu and Luuk de Jong
“It's important that he scores again. You saw how hard he works for the team and to finish in the best possible way. As you also saw on Samu's shirt, this victory is dedicated to Luuk de Jong, who unfortunately will be out for the rest of the season. While he was with us, Luuk de Jong always helped us with his leadership skills, his character and his qualities as a footballer. We will continue to have him around because, even without helping us as a player, he will be important in helping us grow as one of the leaders of the group. He will help Samu and Deniz Gül take a step forward in their careers.”