Even with the second defeat in a row, the result against Grêmio was greatly hampered by individual failures
Attempting to implement a different system to the one Dorival Júnior was used to in his command at São Paulo may have resulted in the team dropping three points in the Brazilian championship. In the match against Grêmio, an unusual formation was chosen which hadn’t been used for some time: playing with three defenders.
The tactical change was motivated by the need to contemplate the wings of the team. Rafinha, although he traveled with the team to Porto Alegre, was not included to save his physical wear, and Raí Ramos ended up being the only option available, as the other right-backs are injured. Furthermore, Diego Costa was also out at the last minute with a knee injury. Thus, a three-back formation was adopted, with Beraldo, Arboleda and Alan Franco forming the defensive trio, while Raí Ramos and Caio acted as wingers on the wings.
In addition to the absences, the choice of formation was also influenced by Raí Ramos’ attacking characteristics and Caio’s familiarity with this scheme. However, this decision raises a point to consider: having three defenders does not guarantee a more solid defense, and by adding one more defender, another sector of the team loses a player. In this Sunday’s match (4), San Paolo entered the field without a second defensive midfielder.
The effects of this change have been evident and have affected many aspects of the game. One of the problems observed was the exit of the ball. When the steering wheel was isolated for game construction, great difficulties arose. Pablo Maia had only two options: move the ball back or try to dribble past a marked opponent. This led to São Paulo losing control of the midfield, mainly due to the lack of a player to assist Cria de Cotia. Normally this role was played by Gabriel Neves, left on the bench because he was suspended, as a strategy aimed at the classic against Palmeiras in the next round.
In fact, San Paolo’s biggest problem during the match was in the defensive end. With only one midfielder on the pitch, the responsibility of covering the flanks rested with the defenders. Alan Franco needed to talk with Raí Ramos, while Beraldo with Caio. However, things didn’t go as planned.
In the goal conceded by Reinaldo, for example, Raí abandoned his marking, making an individual error. Although there is a tactical justification that São Paulo were not used to playing in this formation with the current team, Raí Ramos’ function at the time was exclusively to score Reinaldo. Sadly, that responsibility was ignored when he moved to join the defense entry, causing Alan Franco to move inappropriately.
On the penalty committed by Cristaldo there isn’t a very complex discourse. It was a “youthful” gesture on the part of Alan Franco, which could have been avoided. It is from this point that the negative result of the match arises: two individual errors.
San Paolo failed to overturn the match for a simple reason: the difficulty in getting the ball out. When ball output is compromised, it becomes more difficult to advance effectively. The best play of the Tricolor Paulista, which resulted in Calleri’s goal, came from a cross from the midfielder, with Caio advancing wide. If it is not possible to pass into the centre, the alternative would be to look for play on the wings as a way to relieve the pressure and create attacking opportunities.
Are the two defeats a reason for ‘despair’?
NO. Although the difficulties in the standings of São Paulo in the Copa do Brasil scared the fans, the situation against Grêmio was completely different, which was justified by Dorival Júnior himself during the press conference. San Paolo didn’t start happy due to individual problems and this formation adopted. Now, he expects to see the team’s bearing on Thursday (8), against Tolima, when he will be able to decide his future in the Copa Sudamericana. Until then, these are problems that can be fixed.
In the first half, San Paolo lost control only because of these failures. And as shown earlier, “one thing leads to another”.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
