Corinthians drew 1-1 with Cruzeiro, this Saturday, for the 20th day of the Brazilian championship, away from home. Coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo has decided to save some starters from the trip to Belo Horizonte and has chosen a mixed squad. In a press conference, he explained.
The captain revealed that the team was very shaken after the elimination in the semifinals of the Copa do Brasil, by São Paulo, last Wednesday.
“The match is over, we lost a match. The coach is exacerbated, he has to be sent away, even two, three players… We were upset. My team was down there. We were very busy and we made Corinthians. We left a very unfavorable situation for a Copa do Brasil semifinal situation” he said.
In the midst of this scenario, Luxemburgo appreciated the draw with Cruzeiro at the Mineirão and congratulated the players.
“I want to congratulate the players who came here and those I left there in Sao Paulo. They didn’t have the thrill of playing here. It’s a question of analysis, of criteria,” he commented.
“The return of Gustavo, as well as that of Ruan, that of Rojas, who is not yet at the ideal pace, Gabriel… and a lot of grit to turn the key,” he added.
The goal that sealed the draw came 50 minutes into the second half, with Gustavo Mosquito returning after 10 months of injury treatment.
“Mosquito didn’t have a collective, but we worked a lot with the ball. All training is with the ball. Both Gustavo Mosquito and Veríssimo didn’t have a collective, but you have to put it in. These are the risks we have to take. Rojas too he’s not ready, I eliminated him so as not to expose him to another injury. I also spared Bruno Méndez. Everything is done like this, with relay teams and boys,” commented the coach.
Finally, the commander admitted that Corinthians had difficulty connecting the attack against Raposa, but stressed that the team is evolving.
“In the first half, we had a line of four, trading the ball a lot, and threes up front that were very consistent. What I told Wesley is what Mosquito did. When the ball left the left, he was inside the box. If remains open the goal does not go out. When the ball comes from the side they have to enter the area. This will happen with work. Cruzeiro marked our exit well, we were not able to make the construction. We needed to connect with the future. We are moving forward. I’m satisfied,” he concluded.
With the result, Corinthians reached their sixth unbeaten match in the Brasileirão. Furthermore, the club moved up to 13th place, with 24 points.
Timão now turns his attention to the South American. The team will receive Estudiantes, from Argentina, at the Neo Química Arena this Tuesday, at 21:30 (Brasilia time), for the first leg of the quarter-finals.
The next valid match for Brasileirão will be next Saturday, against Goiás, at 9 pm, for the 21st round, at home.
Source: Terra

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