Francesco Farioli, coach of FC Porto, confirmed this Sunday, December 14th, that Gabri Veiga and Rodrigo Mora are fit for the game against Estrela da Amadora, in the 14th round of the I League, scheduled for this Monday, December 15th, at 8:45 pm at Estádio do Dragão.
The Dragons’ coach admitted that both players have fully recovered from injuries: “Gabri worked yesterday (Saturday) with the team, but today he is 100%. Rodrigo is also back.”
Farioli also addressed the lack of definition in midfield, a sector that he considers crucial in his game model. “There are different possibilities and scenarios, both for the beginning and for the course of the game. It is important to evaluate the players’ moment and find the best balance”, he explained, admitting solutions with Gabri Veiga, Rodrigo Mora and Pablo Rosario.
The coach also highlighted the advantages of playing on Mondays, in a tight schedule: “It gives us more time to recover players. One day may seem like little, but it makes a difference when we play every four days.”
Regarding the absence of Zaidu Sanusi, serving the Nigeria team in the African Cup of Nations, he was confident in the alternatives.
“Francisco Moura is the only left-back from scratch, but Kiwior can also play in that position, as can Martim Fernandes or Pedro Lima, from team B”, he indicated, admitting, on an offensive level, the possibility of Rodrigo Mora playing further forward, stating that this “is literally a false nine”.
The coach also left an appeal to the fans: “We know it’s a Monday night, but it’s very important to have a full stadium. The fans’ support can be decisive.”
FC Porto, the isolated leader of the championship, with 37 points, receives Estrela da Amadora, 13th place, with 14, in a game refereed by Miguel Fonseca, from the Porto association.