Alan Varela, FC Porto’s Argentine midfielder, spoke openly after a 2-1 victory over Twente. He admitted feeling short of the mark last season, 2024/25, for the proud club. Varela stressed, though, that the team is working hard to reclaim its true spirit.
The initial feeling was one of joy. Varela shared his happiness with the win and the team’s fighting spirit. “We fought until the very end,” he said, “and you could really see that.” He views the current period as a journey. The team must improve little by little. They are learning about their new coach and fresh faces on the squad. It’s about taking things step by step, getting better, and chasing victories.
The match against Twente wasn’t easy. Two red cards made things tough for FC Porto. Varela noted that such events just happen. “They stay in the past,” he explained. The team had to quickly adjust to being down players. It was a very intense game. The field felt huge after the expulsions. This is why Varela praised his teammates. Their effort was clear. They battled hard and secured the win.
FC Porto’s midfield has a new look. Victor Froholdt joined with great enthusiasm. Varela sees him performing very well. Froholdt has a lot of skill. The hope is he keeps going strong, improving each game. He can offer so much to the team.
Is the squad stronger now? “Yes,” Varela stated simply. The entire team is putting in the effort. They are very tight-knit. Their shared goal is clear: to bring back the club’s identity.
New coach Farioli brings a fresh outlook. Varela noted it’s “another idea” for play. The players are still getting to know him. They are working on improving together. Slowly, they are getting a feel for the coach’s desired style of play. This will be very important for the team’s success.
Varela learned some hard lessons last season. He repeated the need to “recover the identity.” He plainly stated, “Last season, we weren’t up to par.” He takes much of the blame himself. “I wasn’t good enough for the club,” he confessed. This year, he wants to prove he can give more. His words carry the weight of expectation.