FC Porto manager Francesco Farioli has admitted he’s watched plenty of Burnley videos, so has a feeling for how Sean Dyche may set up Nottingham Forest this week.
Jornal de Noticias and O Jogo cover different quotes from the Porto manager today ahead of their clash with Nottingham Forest this evening.
Nottingham Forest host the Portuguese side in the Europa League. They’re looking to secure their first win in the competition and get their season back on track.
They’ll have a new manager in charge for the game. Sean Dyche was confirmed as Ange Postecoglou’s replacement this week. He’s been given little time to get his feet under the table before his first game in charge.
“I used videos of Burnley”
That means any tactical surprises are unlikely, but Farioli is prepared anyway. He’s done his research before, specifically watching Dyche’s time at Burnley.
“Regarding the changes at Nottingham, we received the news and had to rush to prepare for three different scenarios. With two or three coaching candidates and their respective variables,” O Jogo report him saying.
“Until yesterday [the day before yesterday], Sean Dyche was confirmed, and we had to focus completely on the new manager. He’s someone with a very strong connection to the club, so this won’t just be a game; there are emotional factors that will affect the match.
“He will bring a strong and clear identity. At the other clubs I’ve coached, I even used videos of Burnley, because of the team’s spirit of sacrifice and the way they protect the goal. There are things that serve as analysis, and we’ll be ready for different scenarios.”
The emotional impact is certainly something that Farioli appears to be aware of. Dyche has strong connections to Nottingham Forest, indeed he lives in Nottingham still. His backroom team are also Nottingham Forest favourites.
And it seems the Porto manager is more than wary of that as he referenced that emotional connection again.
“We threw out all the analysis we did up until last Saturday,” he added for Noticias Ao Minuto.
“We had a couple of days to gather information and pay attention to the new manager, Sean Dyche, who has a strong connection with the club. The emotional factor will have an impact on the match.”