The Corinthian coach talks about the weather after the elimination in the Copa do Brasil
Coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo admits that part of the Corinthians squad still suffers from the elimination in the semifinals of the Copa do Brasil, by São Paulo, which took place last Wednesday (16), and, therefore, has decided to spare some players in the duel against Cruzeiro , this Saturday (19), for the Brazilian championship.
Against Raposa, Timão lost until the 53rd minute of the second half, when striker Gustavo Mosquito went looking for an equaliser. The goalscorer returned to play in this match, after 10 months of absence, recovering from a serious injury to his right knee. Also for this reason, the team that was in Belo Horizonte was praised by the coach.
– My team was down after the defeat (of the Copa do Brasil). Over there, because we were very busy making Corinthians win. I want to congratulate the players who came to play (against Cruzeiro), because those who stayed didn’t have the thrill of playing here – Luxa said in a press conference held at the Mineirão stadium.
– It was difficult to transform this emotion, we realized in concentration yesterday. We are with players every day and we understand that. And when I decided to leave some players there, it was to leave that thing behind — it completed.
The formation taken by the Corinthians commander for the confrontation in the capital of Minas Gerais was completely alternative, and the professional’s speech has always favored the Brazilian championship. However, Luxemburgo revealed that he had an interview with the board, chaired by president Duílio Monteiro Alves, in which he was asked to also give due importance to the Copa Sudamericana.
This Tuesday (22nd), Timão receives Estudiantes, from Argentina, for the first leg of the quarterfinals of the continental competition.
– What problem would you like to understand regarding the transfer to Sulamericana? With the start of the Copa do Brasil, the Sul-Americana has become an important competition for us, because it places a lot of value on going to the World Cup. When you’re in the company, you talk to people. When the president calls me to speak. When we said that the priority was the Brazilian national teams, it was decided with Alessandro, with the president, that the priority was the Brazilian national teams and the Copa do Brasil. When we left the Copa do Brasil, the president brought us together and said that the priority was the Brazilian, to get to the top, go to the Libertadores, but that we had to give importance to the Sul-Americana. People think that I come and decide everything. Everything I say here is discussed internally – said Vanderlei, in an annoyed tone.
Two months ago, when Corinthians had already been eliminated early by Libertadores, in the group stage, Luxemburgo had the opinion that the squad of the alvinegro club was unable to play in three competitions at the same time. Even so, they would play the last round of the group stage of Conmebol’s main competition, managing to keep the “consolation prize” which was third place in the group and, consequently, a place in the Sudamericana.
Against Liverpool, from Uruguay, Luxa’s choice was to choose a totally alternative squad, with most of the players younger. The team then played well, won 3-0 and secured a place for Sula.
In the playoff phase of the Sul-Americana, the Corinthian coach once again opted to let the boys play. And they won both matches against Universitario of Peru. The second, in Lima, had an atmosphere of war, after the arrest of the physical trainer of the Peruvian team in São Paulo for acts of racism.
For Vanderlei Luxemburgo all this scenario has given experience to the younger athletes to the point that, now that Corinthians is out of the Copa do Brasil, the Sudamericana becomes a competition to play with greater concentration.
– Sudamericana was an opportunity to let young players play, who matured very quickly. More international minutes, tense time in Peru, refereeing, a number of important things. Today we have a squad that could go to the Copa do Brasil and Sudamericana finals, with the relay in progress. Today we have a cast with conditions for doing things that need to be done.
In the round of 16 of the Sudamericana, against the Argentine Newell’s Old Boys, the strategy adopted by Luxemburgo was already different from the previous phase. Against the Argentines, the chosen team was a reserve in both matches. And with a 2-1 win in São Paulo and a goalless draw in Rosario, the table went to the Parque São Jorge team.
Source: Terra
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