FC Porto achieved its 11th consecutive victory and 15th clean sheet in the league after beating Gil Vicente (3-0), and Francesco Farioli praised “the spirit and attitude that the players showed on the field,” which helps the group “raise the bar every day and be more competitive.” “The attitude is fantastic, but we have to keep working because there are many games ahead,” warned the coach, for whom “this result was very important.”

5th placed team
“We knew Gil Vicente's level, they have had a good season, they are very organized, and we needed 25 minutes to get into the game. The weather didn't help, the wind was treacherous, it rained a lot, and it took us a while to get into the swing of things, but we still created some chances before the first goal. It was an important result. Now we have a few days to prepare for another important game against Rangers FC.”

A worthy opponent
“I don't know what our ball possession was. They managed the game well in the early minutes, but we grew into it, created three or four good chances, but there were also moments when we had to suffer and chase the opponent. They have a very physical, energetic team with a lot of quality. It's no coincidence that they are in fifth place.”

Samu
“He did well. He tried several times to play first time, even though he had the opportunity to control the ball and pass more calmly. Still, he played well, scored an important goal, and felt the support of 40,000 fans who chanted his name before the penalty. This says a lot about the feeling of the blue and white family and the unity in good times and bad. It's not easy to take a penalty after missing two in a row, so the support was very important. I'm happy for him.”

Ángel Alarcón
“There's no doubt he's a good player. He had a difficult start, but he's improved a lot and I trust him. He did some very good things, he helped us train and play better. I'm happy for him. He'll get more minutes, which is very important at his age. I'm happy to know that he'll be working with a good coach who will help him develop. In the summer, he'll come back more mature and ready to help the team.”

Winning mentality
“The spirit and attitude that the players show on the pitch in every training session and game helps us raise our level and be more competitive. The spirit is fantastic, but we have to keep working because there are still many games ahead. The decisive phase is coming, and we have to keep doing what we've been doing well and continue to improve. Today we had several opportunities to capitalize on the game early on, and we didn't. We have to improve our effectiveness. The spirit is there, but there is still much room for improvement.”

Eustáquio's words at halftime
“I asked him to talk to the team, and his speech gave me goosebumps. The message was very powerful. He talked to us about his development as a player since he started playing and the sacrifices he had to make to be here today. It was a very important message for the younger players. He found the right words to give Samu confidence. This group has several leaders and the players enjoy spending time with each other, they are very professional, committed to the Club, and know how to welcome new members. I am very grateful for the group of players I coach, they are great human beings and Eustáquio is a good example of that. However, his substitution had nothing to do with this, it was necessary to manage Froholdt's minutes.”

Martim Fernandes
“He's getting more minutes because he's improved a lot. I never had any doubts about his quality. The start of the season was difficult because he had to deal with an injury, and when he came back, he had several tough games and made some mistakes, but no one pointed the finger at him. He is only 18 years old, he couldn't live with that weight on his shoulders, and he knew how to clear his mind and take advantage of the opportunities he was given to evolve. He is more mature defensively and confident with the ball. Today he scored a great goal. I'm happy for him because he deserves it.”

Kiwior on the left
“Francisco Moura has just returned from injury and we have to manage the situation. We play in three days and we want everyone ready for the next game.”

Changes in the corridors
“We have four good fullbacks and Kiwior can also help us in that position. On the left, we have two players with great physical ability, who are improving in their decision-making with the ball. On the other side, we have two young players who are already great players, but they are very different from each other. Martim Fernandes is a player with more control and Alberto Costa gives us an extra boost offensively. They are both very good and strong defensively. We have several interesting alternatives. With the talent they have, they can contribute in different ways.”