Artur Jorge unveiled at Cruzeiro, demands instant response, way off bottom

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·25. März 2026

Artur Jorge unveiled at Cruzeiro, demands instant response, way off bottom

Cruzeiro’s new head coach, Artur Jorge, was officially introduced on Wednesday afternoon (25) at Toca da Raposa II, in Belo Horizonte, with a straightforward message about the team’s delicate situation in the Brazilian Championship. He arrives to take over from Tite, who was dismissed after Cruzeiro’s draw against Vasco in the sixth round of the tournament.

Without a win after eight rounds and with only four points, Raposa sit at the bottom of the table, a scenario far removed from the performance that led the club to a third-place finish last season. For the coach, the diagnosis is simple, but it requires an immediate response.

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“Winning is what’s missing. We need to win and find consistency. We are indeed in last place, which does not reflect the value and quality of Cruzeiro’s squad. What’s missing is winning, and we will win soon,” he summed up.

Mental aspect and demand for a reaction

Beyond the technical aspects, Artur Jorge highlighted the emotional impact of the poor run and made it clear that the discomfort needs to exist within the squad.

“It has to be shaken because we still haven’t won. I want it to be, because we haven’t won, and it has to hurt when we don’t win,” he said.

The coach went further by pointing to two factors he considers crucial in modern football: ego and expectations.

“We have to lower our ego and manage expectations. It takes humility to work hard and achieve more. It’s up to us, as leaders, to turn around this situation, which does not match what we want for Cruzeiro.”

According to him, some pillars will be non-negotiable in the day-to-day building of his team: “Commitment, dedication, and the willingness to be useful to the team.”

Changes to the playing style

Artur Jorge also indicated that the team will undergo tactical adjustments. After analyzing the recent matches, he said he does not intend to repeat the model used so far.

“I watched Cruzeiro’s latest matches and I know we’re not going to play the same way. Our proposal is to adapt in order to maximize the players we have. This squad was built to have value, but that value has not yet translated into performances on the pitch.”

With only a few days of preparation before the next match, the coach values the time available to implement his ideas.

“We have six days of training and we need patience. We know that in Brazilian football this time is rare, so we have to make the most of it to absorb concepts and make the team more competitive.”

No prioritizing competitions

Even with the critical situation in the Brasileirão standings, the coach ruled out any kind of prioritization between tournaments.

“I don’t prioritize any competition. I want to compete in all of them. The goal is to take Cruzeiro as far as possible, both nationally and internationally.”

Return to training and next challenge

After two days off, the Cruzeiro squad returns on Wednesday (25) and immediately begins work under the new coach. The team will have a full week of training ahead of the clash against Vitória, scheduled for next Wednesday (1st) at 8 p.m. at Mineirão.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.