The summer quiet is drawing to a close for FC Porto. The club has officially announced the start date for its pre-season preparations ahead of the 2024/2025 campaign. Players are scheduled to report back on July 11, marking the initial phase of work under the guidance of the new head coach, Francesco Farioli.
The initial days will be spent at the club`s training complex, known as Olival. This first week is allocated for the traditional medical examinations necessary to assess player fitness after the off-season break, alongside the very first training sessions conducted by the Italian manager and his technical staff. It`s a critical period for Farioli to begin implementing his tactical ideas and, perhaps more importantly, to get a feel for the squad at his disposal.
Following this introductory week in Porto, the team will relocate for a more intensive training period. As was the case last year, the destination chosen for the pre-season training camp is Austria. Specifically, the Dragons will set up base in the town of Bad Tatzmannsdorf.
This repetition of the location suggests that the facilities and environment in Bad Tatzmannsdorf met the club`s requirements previously, or perhaps logistical convenience simply dictated the choice. Football clubs, after all, often prefer predictable setups for such vital preparation stages rather than venturing into the entirely unknown.
While the start date and the training camp location in Austria are now confirmed, the schedule of pre-season friendly matches remains, for the time being, unannounced. Details regarding opponents and match dates are expected to be finalized and communicated in due course. Fans will be eager to see the team in action under the new leadership, even in these non-competitive fixtures.
The focus for Farioli and the squad will be on building physical conditioning, integrating new players (if any arrive before or during this period), and refining the tactical approach before the competitive season officially begins. The July 11th start date signals the formal beginning of a new era at the Estádio do Dragão.
