FC Porto beat FC Alverca in the 15th matchday of the championship (3-0) and Francesco Farioli said he was “very happy with the result, the performance and for giving this gift to the fans” just a few days before Christmas. In the aftermath of “a very positive game on a pitch that was not in the best condition” against “a very physical opponent capable of winning many duels”, the Italian coach praised the attitude of a group that “played well, created many opportunities”, “found the right moments to attack the opponent's area” and “played a good game”.

Positive performance and result
“It was a very positive game on a pitch that was not in the best condition and that made our task difficult against a very physical opponent, capable of winning many duels. We did well, created many chances, I am happy with the result, the performance and for giving this gift to our fans.”

90 minutes summarised
“The pressure and reaction to losing the ball were decisive, as well as the ability to understand the different moments of the game and the ability to attack against a low block. We managed the second half well, we found our moments to attack the opponent's area, both with combinations and with crosses. We played well, we managed the long balls and second balls well. It was positive.”

Clean sheet
“We had the help of Diogo, who made two great saves and helped the team keep a clean sheet. His presence and the way he influences the team's spirit is remarkable. He did well, made important saves. I prefer games where our defence doesn't have much work to do, but it's good to have a top goalkeeper when we need him.”

Diogo Costa
“He is a top player, a professional with a great mentality, who challenges himself daily and challenges his teammates to be better and raise their level. His role in the team is key. He is truly a player worthy of Porto.”

Deco's words
“I am very grateful for his words, but success is never down to the work of one person alone. What I have been trying to do since I arrived is to analyse the situation in order to bring energy to turn the page as quickly as possible. At the end of the game, it is always the coach that shows up to talk, but there are so many people involved in this process, from the coaching staff to the medical team and the players, who are the protagonists.”

A brief break
“I am happy with the result. Having a few days to be with the family will be good for everyone, but when we return we have to assess the players' fitness, because in a few days we'll be playing at home again. The results are good, but we have a lot to improve and we have to work hard.”

The road ahead is long
“We know how many points we have, but we don't have time to look at the numbers. We still have many games ahead of us. I wish the Dragons a Merry Christmas.”

Samu
“He is growing a lot and becoming an increasingly complete forward. He played a key role in the first two goals. He sprinted to attack the space, followed by a very sensitive pass to Rodrigo Mora, which led to Borja Sainz's goal, and in the second, he made a move that only a top player can make. He is working hard and is starting to benefit from playing with the team and for the team. He is a top scorer, but he is making great progress in teamwork.”

Borja Sainz
“I don't know if it was his best game, but it was a very good game. I'm happy that he scored twice again after a very positive period for him. It's always important for a forward to score. In terms of dynamics, our forwards help the team a lot and we are happy when they score and improve their statistics.”

Refereeing
“The Club's statement is very much in line with the message I gave at the press conference. Our message is clear. We've talked a lot about it, I've made my position clear and I have nothing more to add.”

Christmas in the lead
“We take it one game at a time. It's December, not the time to celebrate. We have to move forward with the right commitment. The players will have a few days to rest, because they deserve it, but they have to come back ready to work. The key to success in recent weeks has been hard work, sweat and a spirit of sacrifice, values that represent FC Porto's DNA and that we want to continue to honour. I am very happy to be part of a team of players who work hard and put the team's interests above all else. We want to maintain this team spirit and stay calm. We have several games ahead of us in different competitions. There is a lot going on. We won't have much time to make calculations and think about the past.”

Everyone on the same page
“The president is always present, he usually greets the players at half time and is very close to the team, including in training. We feel his support and it is very important to have this connection between the structure and the team. Tiago Madureira and Henrique Monteiro work with us daily and we feel that we are all rowing in the same direction.”

Changes at half time
“Alberto Costa was feeling sick before the start of the game and, at half time, he didn't feel able to continue. I didn't start with Francisco Moura because he had been complaining of some discomfort in recent days and I thought it was the best decision.”

Pablo Rosario in defence
“It's not the first time he's put in a performance like this. He's always present and available to help. He did very well today against a physical opponent who was strong in the air, but he managed it very well and once again demonstrated his intelligence and ability to adapt.”

Martim Fernandes on the left
“He is a player who can cover more than one position due to his characteristics and physical ability. He can play on both sides. He has been doing very well lately, I am happy with his progress and now that he is back from injury he will help us in the coming months.”

The role of centre defenders
“Centre defenders are always key players in build-up play because they take the initiative and lead all attacking situations. Opponents try to adapt and always present different scenarios, which makes it difficult to predict, even if we analyse several games. It is important to be smart and follow the principles we want to apply on the pitch to find the answer to our opponents' strategy. The importance of centre defenders is very clear to us."

Message to the blue and white family
“I wish everyone a Merry Christmas, especially the fans who supported us today in Alverca and were fantastic.”