Crespo on Lucas’s role and São Paulo’s ‘ideal quartet’ | OneFootball

Lucas Moura started the season with high expectations from the São Paulo fans after recovering from a knee problem that troubled him throughout almost the entire previous season. However, some fans had their hopes dashed due to the forward's limited playing time in recent games.

In eight games this season, Lucas started in three. The number 7 had a streak of three games in the starting lineup but was left out of the team after being rested in the derby against Palmeiras, due to the synthetic pitch at Arena Barueri.

After that, the forward gradually accumulated playing time without skipping steps. Against Flamengo, he played four minutes. In the first derby against Santos, he came on at halftime. Finally, last Wednesday, he played about 30 minutes. Hernán Crespo was then questioned about what it takes for the player to return to the starting lineup.

Lucas is still seeking his best form after a year of injuries in 2025. The first major response from the player came last Wednesday when he made a good individual play and assisted Calleri's goal, which equalized the derby against Santos.

The number 7 is still looking for his first goal of the season. So far, he has played seven games and provided one assist in 2026.

São Paulo with ‘ideal quartet’?

São Paulo started the derby with Lucas and Luciano on the bench, having an attacking duo composed of Tapia and Calleri. In midfield, the Tricolor also made changes, with Pablo Maia replacing Marcos Antônio.

In the second half, needing to chase the result, Crespo made changes to the team and fielded a quartet consisting of Marcos Antônio, Lucas, Luciano, and Calleri.

Crespo was then asked if the formation with the quartet would be the "ideal" for São Paulo. The coach dodged the question but noted that the team is closer to finding an "identity."

"I learned here that the ideal world doesn't exist, we have to live day by day. At this moment, this is the lineup, we are very happy with Calleri returning from injury, Lucas also coming back, we are waiting for André Silva, we gained Luan. Slowly, we try to maintain a line, an identity, and we try to do the best we can," Crespo concluded.

Standings situation

With the result, São Paulo reached its third game unbeaten, with two wins and a draw in this stretch. The Tricolor remains unbeaten in the Brazilian Championship and is in fifth place, with four points from two matches.

Upcoming São Paulo matches

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