Dorival defends mixed line-up, shrugs off Corinthians pressure | OneFootball

The coach Dorival Júnior justified the decision to field a mixed team for Corinthians in the goalless draw against Chapecoense last Thursday night at Arena Condá, during the seventh round of the Brazilian Championship. Only four starters were kept in the team: André, Hugo Souza, Garro, and Yuri Alberto, who finally returned from injury.

Additionally, some important players didn't even travel to Chapecó (SC). These included Carrillo (discomfort in the right adductor), Kaio César (discomfort in the right thigh), Gabriel Paulista, and Memphis Depay (rested for load management).

“Resting players is to ensure they can play on equal terms with any opponent. When you hold back one or two players, it's for that reason. To prevent an accumulation of load, which causes injuries. All teams make changes, I don't know why there's this discrepancy for Corinthians. It's a normal fact, happening all the time. You have to pay close attention to the signs each player is showing. Like Yuri, he played 90 minutes today. What will be his condition for Sunday's game? It's difficult, we'll only know on Saturday morning whether we can field him on Sunday or not. These are the challenges we face,” he explained.

“I have great respect for the work of the physiologists and the medical department, because it was through them that we managed to have all players in top condition for the Copa do Brasil final last year, and to play the decision against Flamengo this year. Through them, I follow all the steps presented to me. We talk daily to make the best decisions for the club. Whether it pleases or not, it doesn't matter. The important thing is that I have a clear conscience due to the data presented to me by competent people,” he added.

Pressure in the Position?

Dorival also dismissed the possibility of being under pressure due to the negative streak experienced by Corinthians. The team reached its sixth game without a win on Thursday, with four draws and two losses. This is the worst series for the coach since he joined the team.

“Talk to the board about it. I'm here doing my best, trying to give my best. From the moment the board finds a change convenient, I know the way home. I'm very calm about it because I'm giving my best to Corinthians. Just like last year. The demands were very high, even without signings, with 12 players in the medical department, the demands were the same. In the end, they celebrated, didn't they? The important thing is how we finish, not how we start the championships. If they trust, you can be sure the results will come. I'm not naive, I know how to do it, I know how to get there. I've shown many people that I know how to reach competition finals,” he emphasized.

What did you think of Corinthians' game?

Finally, the coach also lamented Corinthians' draw at Arena Condá, as he believes the team played a good game. He praised the dedication and determination of the squad, which kept seeking the goal throughout the 90 minutes.

“A difficult, contested match. Corinthians didn't hold back, they sought the goal from the first to the last minute. The ball didn't stop, it was an interesting game to watch. We played a game within a reasonable condition, the team is in a process of continuous improvement. We're playing the sixth away game out of eight played. We wanted a different result, and we fought for a victory. It didn't happen. Chapecoense is a tough team to beat here. The team sought, fought from the first to the last minute. We weren't lucky on a night we could have had better fortune,” the coach assessed.

“The problem is opening up in a game like it was, very open, and conceding a goal. You have to be careful too, you need the perception and sensitivity that the game requires, a bit of caution. We were on top, finished the game creating good opportunities, but we weren't lucky in finishing them,” he concluded.

Situation in the Standings

With the result, Corinthians couldn't shake off the negative streak of the season. The team reached nine points and remained in ninth place in the Brasileirão, but reached its sixth consecutive game without a win.

Upcoming Corinthians Matches

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