Dutch veteran coach Ron Jans has lauded FC Porto’s Francesco Farioli for his exceptional ability to unite teams and foster strong player relationships, ahead of their Europa League encounter.
Jans, who manages Utrecht, will face Farioli’s FC Porto. The 67-year-old Dutch coach expressed deep respect for Farioli’s character and coaching prowess.
“When he came to Ajax, the team was not doing well, and he brought life back to Ajax, there was team spirit again,” Jans told Sport Tv. He added that Farioli was “a specialist in making a team of 11 or 25 players.”
Jans described Farioli as a “gentleman” who always displayed sportsmanship. He emphasized how much players appreciated Farioli, stating, “I know the players still like him. So that says a lot about how much a coach is appreciated.”
Farioli’s positive impact was also evident at his previous club. “It wasn’t enough to win the championship, but I think he brought something to Ajax and the Dutch league,” Jans noted.
The upcoming match pits Utrecht against FC Porto in the Europa League. Jans, one of the most experienced coaches in the Dutch league, currently sees his Utrecht side with zero points after three league matches.
Utrecht aims to improve its performance. “We want to be competitive tomorrow and look for points,” Jans said, highlighting the team’s need “to score a goal, which we haven’t managed yet.”
Jans has an unbeaten record against Farioli from their previous encounters, with one win and one draw. He hopes to maintain this streak.
“I hope to continue with ‘never’ losing… But the sample is two games, it’s not a great basis for a conclusion,” Jans clarified. He added, “I hope to beat him, but nothing against him, just competition, because I respect him a lot as a person and as a coach.”
Jans, who has also coached in the United States and Belgium, stated he now has a better understanding of the FC Porto squad. He mentioned Rosario, who was born and played in the Netherlands.