FC Porto’s coach comments on the victory over Tondela and sets his sights on the game against Sporting, in the second leg of the Portuguese Cup semi=finals.
Francesco Farioli, in a flash interview with SportTV, after FC Porto’s 2-0 victory over Tondela in the 30th round of the Liga:
Analysis of the victory over Tondela
In the first half, besides the penalty, we had three or four good opportunities to score. In the second half, we approached the game in the right way, and unlocking the game at the start of the second half was essential. I’m very happy with the result. Rosario’s entry was important for both goals. It’s not just one player, it’s everyone’s work. A collective effort and a collective result.
Title calculations after Sporting’s derby defeat…
In reality, it’s just three more points and one game less, nothing more than that. Our focus has to shift to the Portuguese Cup, especially since I’ll be looking at the derby as a way to best prepare for the second leg of the semi-finals. Everything has to be the same; we know where the finish line is, and there are many steps to get there. We have to maintain the same approach, with maximum concentration and focus. There are no easy games.
FC Porto’s approach to the second leg of the Cup semi-finals
Last Thursday, with the same player, the spirit and approach were perfect. The challenge is to repeat the level of those performances. Now we have a big game against Sporting. Everyone knows the respect I have for the opponent, but it will be a final here at home and the fans will give us the motivation. For our part, we have to fight for every ball and in the end we’ll see if we can turn the tie around.