Luís Castro hails Grêmio’s Gaúcho crown, says team is more ready and competitive | OneFootball

Grêmio clinched the 2026 Campeonato Gaúcho with a 1-1 draw at Beira-Rio, completing the job after a 3-0 first-leg win at the Arena. Head coach Luís Castro said the team is now more ready and competitive.

According to Globo.com, Castro joined at the start of the year and had to build a side off a short pre-season while the Brasileirão was already under way during the final phase of the state competition. Despite that, he helped Grêmio reassert themselves in the Gauchão.

He noted that the ideal foundations are laid in a quiet pre-season without official matches, which they did not have. Even so, he argued the main gain is a sharper, more competitive team that defends and attacks better, with players capable of performing multiple roles effectively.

Castro felt the title brings calm for the months ahead. Grêmio sit eighth in the Brasileirão and will also contest the Copa do Brasil and the Copa Sudamericana. He stressed that hard work must be matched by wins, since victories validate the process for players.

The coach avoided promises for the rest of the year, but insisted effort will not be lacking. He dedicated the triumph to his players and to the travelling support, who packed the away end at Beira-Rio and celebrated the crown.

Attention now returns to the league, with Grêmio hosting Bragantino on Thursday in the fifth round, kick-off 21:30 at the Arena.

Source: Globo.com