Questions & Answers about Fui ao encontro do treinador para falar com ele.
Why does this sentence use ao encontro do instead of de encontro ao?
The phrase ao encontro de indicates going towards someone to meet them, or agreeing with an idea. If you used de encontro a (resulting in Fui de encontro ao treinador), it would mean you physically crashed into the coach or directly opposed him! Since you just want to talk, you need the friendly convergence of ao encontro de.
Why is it do instead of just de after encontro?
The fixed expression is ao encontro de. Since you are referring to a specific coach (o treinador), the preposition de must contract with the definite article o to become do (ao encontro de + o = ao encontro do).
Could I use por instead of para before falar?
No, you need para here because it expresses purpose or intention (in order to). The preposition por is often used for cause, duration, or method, but not for the final goal of an action like this meeting.
Is there a difference between saying para falar com ele and para lhe falar?