Cuca calls for signings and details Santos needs for second half | OneFootball

The break in the calendar for the World Cup will bring a clear and urgent mission for Santos’ board: strengthen the squad.

Coach Cuca used the moment to reinforce his call for new signings, aiming to find the team’s ideal “balance” for the marathon of matches in the second half of the year.

The information was detailed by the website ge.

In a lighthearted tone, the coach sent a direct message to the president and football executive Alexandre Mattos, stressing that the needs are spread across every area of the pitch:

"A little in every area (laughs). A little at the back, a little in midfield, a little up front. Two for each would be good, right? It’s not just one area. (...) All of this is being discussed with the president, with Alexandre, and we’re going to work on it," he said.

🔍 The X-ray of the shortages at Vila Belmiro:

The Santos boss mapped out the main problems in the current squad. See where the board will need to act in the market:

1. Full-backs operating at the limit

The flanks are currently Peixe’s biggest headache.

Right side: Igor Vinícius has been playing through the pain with a broken toe. The alternative would be Mayke, but the veteran faces strong rejection from the fans and is one of the names who could leave the club in this transfer window.

Left side: Escobar is the only viable option left. The situation worsened because Vini Lira suffered a serious left knee injury (out for the season), and youngster Rafael Gonzaga failed to meet expectations, returning to the U-20 team.

2. Defensive midfielders “being forced to mature”

The midfield is going through an options crisis. Zé Rafael is training separately and could have his contract terminated, while Venezuelan Tomás Rincón is not part of Cuca’s plans. To make matters worse, João Schmidt and Gabriel Menino are injured. The temporary solution has been to fast-track academy players such as Samuel Pierri and Davizinho.

"The two boys who played today aren’t even 18. It’s too early to evaluate them, but they’re being forced to mature. Like papaya that you wrap in newspaper so it ripens faster," the coach joked.

3. Lack of sharp wingers in attack

Cuca wants wide attackers with the technical ability to dribble and take on defenders one-on-one. In the coaching staff’s assessment, Moisés is currently the only player in the squad with that profile, but he too is going through a period of doubts and criticism from the stands.

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

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