Crespo honest on São Paulo's revival: I should have come sooner | OneFootball

Argentinian commander during tonight's match at Morumbi (Rubens Chiri/SPFC)

RAFAEL EMILIANO@rafaelemilianoo

For seven rounds of the Brazilian Championship, coach Hernán Crespo preached humility and avoided at all costs making a comparison of his work with that of his predecessor, Luis, who was dismissed after a series of poor results that left São Paulo fighting against relegation.

"What a shame, I should have arrived earlier (laughs). It's a good, cool moment, where everything is going right, with the commitment from the athletes, a hungry group. Difficult, delicate moment, now it's good. We have to continue on this path, keep our feet on the ground and continue this way, respecting the ways the team intends to play and I think we will have possibilities and good things to happen," he said.

With the result, São Paulo reaches 32 points, tied with Botafogo and Mirassol, but occupying the seventh position due to tiebreaker criteria.

With Crespo, hired in June, the team has six wins, two draws, and only one defeat in the Brasileirão.

Regarding Sunday's match, the Argentinian commander explained the lineup used, maintaining three defenders and setting up the midfield with three defensive midfielders, and explained the decision to rest Lucas and not even include him in the squad for the match.

"Lucas has a special plan to return 100%. He couldn't play. Rodriguinho had issues with fatigue, physical problems, and Alisson is also out. The situation was clear. Pablo Maia gives freedom for Boba and Marcos Antônio to create a bit further ahead. Many times choices are made due to fatigue, problems. In this case, it worked out because Pablo Maia played well, scored a goal. There are times when everything goes right," he said.

"Today it's important to talk about those who played today, and played very well. Playing this way is not easy, after a Libertadores that emotionally creates a huge strain. And to return with this idea of play, identity, respecting the ball, trying to associate, is very important. I want to congratulate the athletes who played in a difficult way after an emotionally strong game like the other day. It's not easy to recharge the battery and be this well, with this aggressiveness, courage to play, to create, to recover the ball. It's time to talk about our game," Crespo concluded.

São Paulo returns to the field only next weekend, at 9 PM (Brasília time) on Sunday (31), to face Cruzeiro at Mineirão, also for the Brasileirão.

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