Farioli clears Moura and explains what failed in FC Porto: “We deserved more”

Athe cable of two journeys, FC Porto remains unable to score, in the new sports season of 2026/27 of the Champions League, since, after the defeat suffered before Manchester City, in the Dragon Stadium, 0-2, it was not able to do better, in the Stadium of La Cartuja, and 'tombou' in front of the Real Betis, by 3-2.

At the press conference following the final whistle, Francesco Farioli sought to explain what failed: “It was a match in which they could have scored more goals and we too could have scored more. The result could have been different. Of course, there is a feeling that we deserved something more”.

“However, at the level of the Champions League, when granting the minimum space, you pay the price, because there are players with the ability to maximize any bid. These are the lessons we must learn. There are no hard feelings: there are clear aspects to analyze and improve, and we now have a week to prepare for our next Champions League meeting at Dragon Stadium”, he said.

“ In the first 70 meters of the field, we did very well, but in the last 30 meters, we didn't produce enough to create the danger due. The opponent did exactly the opposite, in the last 30 meters, whenever he touched the ball, he created a shot or an opportunity. This is my first half reading. In the second part, the dynamics changed and saw a different scenario ", continued.

“Of course, we regret that we did not do the 3-1 right after Samu’s goal, at a time when we had two excellent occasions. It was the perfect time to sentence the match. We didn't do it, we suffered 2-2 and yet we continued to have opportunities to take advantage and score after 3-2. We left everything in the field, but the Champions League is a different level ", completed.

“Moor? I’ve never been a coach who puts individual responsibility on the shoulders of a single player.”

The Italian coach also refused to attribute the blame for this result to Francisco Moura, who let himself be overcome by Antony in the bid that culminated in the 2-2 goal, by Cucho Hernández, before, in the final line, having committed, on Ángel Ortiz, the great penalty that Isco would eventually convert, to seal the final twist.

“It is a player who comes from a demanding period, from a second half of difficult season. In the last few meetings, you've made very solid displays. Now he had a very complicated direct opponent and performed several positive actions. As for the last two bids, I need time to analyze them in detail, but I've never been a coach who puts individual responsibility on the shoulders of a single player. This was not the case tonight, nor will it ever be in the future”, he stressed.

In conclusion, he devalued the fact that Souza still has no opportunity to show himself in the left wing of the defense: “It came to us in a physical form that was not very good. He is a quality player, whose potential I believe a lot, but he needs to complete his development in a way that allows me to have the feeling that he can play the 90 minutes.”.

“Of course, arriving on the last day of the market, it is not easy to find moments to give you this opportunity. Tomorrow [today], when we return to Olival, we will have a friendly game to try to give these players game time and the opportunity to gain a certain physical condition. So the goal is to have everyone back as soon as possible, so we have the best scenarios to decide which player to put in the field”, he concluded.