Corinthians Women coach on second-half dips, eyes Copa do Brasil derby | OneFootball

On the night of last Monday (25), Corinthians took the field at Canindé Stadium to face Mixto, from Mato Grosso, in a match valid for the 12th round of the qualifying stage of the 2026 Brazilian Women’s Championship, and won comfortably by 4-1. The goals for the Brabas were scored by Jhonson, Duda Sampaio (twice), and Ariel Godoi. The result put the Corinthians side back on top of the overall table in the national tournament with 28 points — nine wins, one draw, and two losses — with 31 goals scored and 13 conceded.

A few minutes after the end of the match, head coach Emily Lima gave a press conference to the journalists present and was asked about the team’s inconsistency in second halves since the start of her tenure. She also explained the decision to have goalkeeper Lelê on the bench and Nicole as the starter, in addition to previewing the Derby against Palmeiras next Saturday (30), in the Women’s Copa do Brasil, at Allianz Parque.

Photo: Rodrigo Gazzanel/Agência Corinthians

In addition, the coach once again spoke about the return to action of center-backs Agustina Barroso and Thaís Regina, both currently in the medical department, squad rotation, Gi Fernandes’ absence, opportunities for young Duda Mineira, and the importance of the break for the 2026 World Cup, which will take place between June 11 and July 19.

Check out the coach’s answers from the press conference after the win over Mixto-MT below:

Drop in performance in second halves has become a ‘routine’ during her tenure

“Tough question. We’ve been studying and trying to identify that since the debut. If I’m not mistaken, the only game in which we managed to maintain and improve in the second half was against Bragantino. In the others, we fluctuated too much every time. We talked in the locker room and the question was whether it was tactical or physical. Our quantitative and qualitative data indicate that it isn’t. It’s much more about attitude, and we’ve been hammering that point. We’ve already turned the page and are thinking about such an important game on Saturday. It’s about changing our attitude right now — we should already have changed it. But it’s not easy, it’s complex, and we’re working on it.”

Lessons from the comeback suffered against Palmeiras in her debut, in mid-March, in the Women’s Brasileirão

“Jaque and I talk a lot during and after games, at home too, about the strategy and what to do. The lesson often isn’t just ours — the reflection has to come from everyone. Everyone making a fair reflection adds to the group, instead of placing all the responsibility on us. All together, and getting the best out of everyone, not just the players. The work is important for everyone to develop. Things have been happening in moments where we can and do have room and space to correct them, which cannot happen on Saturday. There’s a week to make corrections; the post-match period was for taking that reflection home, coming back on Wednesday with a different mentality, and doing good work for Saturday. Either you kill or you die.”

Analysis of the win and feeling of dissatisfaction with the Brabas’ second half

“It feels like a loss, because I never think the game is won from the sideline. Women’s football has changed a lot, it’s more competitive, and anyone who plays against Corinthians gives everything and thinks they can get there — and they can, they almost scored the second goal. It feels like a loss to me; we don’t work for this. They give so much in training, that’s what makes me the most pissed off, because they give so much in training. I can’t point to a single training session that wasn’t good. That’s not what the second half reflects. I talk about steamrolling in the good sense, about what they deliver in training, healthy competition. The first 15 minutes of the second half were the worst. We have to change that now and reflect on what the Bragantino game was.”

When will center-backs Agustina Barroso and Thaís Regina play again?

“We have daily contact with the medical staff. At the end of every training session and after the players’ treatment, we wait for the report. Communication is good with the whole staff, the administrative side, everyone. There are a lot of people, and we manage it well. We know about Thaís Regina’s injury, we respect the doctor who performed the surgery, and we have to follow the necessary steps. The doctor gave the okay, but physically we need to get her ready for a return so we don’t expose her.”

“She is in the final stage of transition, moving from T3 to control, doing warm-ups with the team. Starting this week, she’ll move into the control stage and soon, soon she’ll be back on the field. Unfortunately there’s the break, but she’ll definitely be ready when we return. Agustina is on the same path. We have the last week before the FIFA Date, with two friendlies, and we’ll try to use those girls to understand how they’re doing and come back after the break with them in mind and in good condition to have them as options in the squad.”

Gi Fernandes’ last-minute absence

“Discomfort. We tried to manage her like in Andressa’s case, thinking about Saturday’s game. Better to take care of them; we have a week until the match, so they can have a full week and arrive in good shape for Saturday.”

Squad rotation because of the schedule

“It’s not even about recovery, but everyone who is here has the talent to be here. It’s about giving opportunities in situations they’re taking advantage of. It’s a difficult squad to work with because of the competitiveness and technical quality. It’s good to have that headache. Managing the group is harder than football itself. Management is complicated, trying to rotate the team, but we’ll never please everyone. That starts to narrow down; it’s a second half of the season full of decisive matches. We rotated in the Paulista, but the day-to-day work is what will make them earn their place. It’s not just about the game — being a starter and being called up is linked to what each one did during the week.”

“Training sessions are competitive, it’s nice to have that headache of calling up 23 players, it’s healthy, but it will never please everyone. Managing that is daily work, with conversations, giving confidence to everyone and making them understand where they stand. This isn’t a weekend team, it’s a multi-title-winning Corinthians. You have to understand that your teammate is just as good and competitive as you are. It’s about respecting the decisions and your teammates.”

Importance of the break for the 2026 World Cup

“It comes at just the right time for the injured players. This rest comes at a good time to recover everyone mentally, to be with family. They are in transition.”

Chances for young center-back Duda Mineira

“She is understanding our ideas and the conversations we’ve had with her. She had very few minutes last year; I reviewed that and talked to her, asking her things. I know her quality — she didn’t get here by chance. We’re giving her confidence, just like everyone else, and she’s making the most of the opportunities. She still has a lot to improve and she’s taking advantage of the opportunities.”

Lelê on the bench

“We’ve been rotating the goalkeepers. Both have a high level of competitiveness, technical, tactical, and physical quality. Lelê had a good game against São Paulo, Nicole had a brilliant game against Bragantino, and that result came a lot because of the saves. What happened in that Bragantino game was a collective effort — the team that started, those who came on — it’s an example game. A perfect game in terms of the players’ actions. That’s what this rotation is about: two goalkeepers in a very healthy battle, and not just them, but Rillary and (Ana) Morganti too. We’re well served in goal, with two younger ones and two experienced ones. We’re trying to rotate them so they can keep that rhythm.”

Expectations for the Women’s Copa do Brasil Derby, away from home

“We’re going to play on equal terms. We have to study ourselves daily and study Palmeiras. It’s a team with a very high competitive level, also stumbling like us, I don’t know if that’s the right word. The level of women’s football has changed, and if you don’t maintain the rhythm you’re looking for, you leave openings and the opponent can surprise you. Corinthians has a great history, a good body of work on the field, not excellent yet, but enough to compete, yes.”

Next match

After beating Mixto at home and regaining the lead in the first stage of the Women’s Brasileirão, Corinthians now turns its focus to the Women’s Copa do Brasil. Next Saturday (30), at 11 a.m. (Brasília time), the Brabas will face Palmeiras at Allianz Parque in a one-off Derby in the third round of the national knockout competition.

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