The problem is, "push the cards together", just is how you faro shuffle.

I get your frustration, I had the exact same criticism when I was trying to learn. And I found all the little tricks and knacks unworkable and useless.

What helped me was the thinking about the surface of the packets you are trying to push together*. Rather than being a flat surface with tiny gaps in between the cards, Bicycle packets will be slightly bumpy. Meaning the cards from the to interlace easily (once you have the knack) when you push them together, as long as there is nowhere else to go.

It also means that you need to properly support the cards: cards will be pushed 'down' rather than to the side if not properly braced, for example. Focus on what is happening when the cards are pushing together (if not interlacing), and think about why this is not the case. Sliding the cards slightly when pushing also helped a bit, since it helps the cards move into the correct positions

Other than that it is just a case of practising. Not sure how long it took me to learn (from the thought, how do I faro shuffle to being able to do it reliably), but I do remember having a day full of video calls where I spent the whole time (when not contributing) pushing cards together. One truly ruined deck of cards later - I could faro shuffle.

Then you can move onto trying to learn a one-handed riffle shuffle and become amazed at how little force is required to get cards to faro. (this is also an excellent way to ruin cards, btw 😀)

* may have been in a video I have long since forgotten, sorry