Coach Francesco Farioli faces a tough task as he prepares his squad for the third round of the Taça de Portugal. The team is gearing up to face Celoricense this Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 6 PM. However, Farioli’s preparations are anything but smooth, with a long list of players unavailable for the crucial cup tie.
The main reason for the headaches comes from international duty. A significant thirteen players are currently away, representing their home countries. On top of that, defender Nehuén Pérez and striker Luuk de Jong are both sidelined. They are working hard in the gym and undergoing treatment to recover from their injuries, keeping them off the training pitch for now.
With so many senior players missing, Farioli had to get creative. He looked to the club’s development system, bringing in talent from the B team to fill the gaps. It’s a clear sign of the club’s depth and a chance for fresh faces to make their mark under the watchful eye of the first-team coach.
Eleven players from the B squad joined the main team in training, along with a promising junior player. This mix of experienced youth and raw talent is now stepping up to the challenge. The players who trained under Farioli include:
- Gabriel Brás
- Luís Gomes
- António Ribeiro
- Kaio Henrique
- Domingos Andrade
- Tiago Silva
- João Teixeira
- André Oliveira
- Kauê Rodrigues
- Ángel Alarcón
- Leonardo Vonic
Adding to this group, young Salvador Gomes from the junior team also got his chance to show what he can do. These players are all pushing for a spot, hoping to impress the coaching staff. The squad is scheduled for another morning training session this coming Tuesday, as preparations continue for the cup clash.