What did Farioli announce at the start of pre‑season?

Porto heard, on the morning of July 5, Francesco Farioli state that goalkeeper Diogo Costa will return to training within days. The coach highlighted that the squad has already begun pre‑season and aims to speed up the pace compared with last season.

How are the new and existing players faring?

Farioli praised the arrival of André Silva, who already scored a bicycle kick in the first training session. "It was one of the easiest negotiations ever, everything very fast," he said. Regarding the injured, the coach explained that Vasco is in an advanced recovery stage, while Samu has surprised with his progress but still needs time before being forced back.

Why do 90% of players want to stay at the club?

The manager revealed that, despite a “quiet” market, 90% of the squad expressed the intention to remain at the Dragon. "We have a plan, the president is active behind the scenes and we don’t see serious rumours," he noted. He added that the club has a “dragon in the market” to secure the best roster, but the priority is to keep the core that already won recent titles.

What does this mean for the Champions League?

Farioli reminded that past success – trophies already hanging in the museum – brings extra responsibility in Europe’s premier competition. "We must keep the same spirit, it’s our DNA," he declared, emphasizing that the team must avoid autopilot and maintain a high standard to face the Champions.

What’s the next step in preparation?

In the coming days, the focus will be Diogo Costa’s full recovery, who should "recharge batteries" before reclaiming the starting spot. The coach also promised to work on the fitness of the other injured players, without haste, to ensure everyone is ready when the official season kicks off.

Francesco Farioli showed confidence in the squad’s continuity and its ability to strengthen the roster without compromising the identity that has made Porto one of Europe’s most feared clubs.