Renato Gaúcho rotates Vasco squad, has already used 31 players | OneFootball

Renato Gaúcho's time at Vasco da Gama has been mainly marked by constant squad rotation. In 13 matches in charge of the team, the coach repeated his starting lineup only once, highlighting the frequent changes in the formation.

Overall, Vasco had 12 different starting lineups during that period. The only repetition came in the matches against Fluminense and Grêmio, still early in the coach’s stint.

+ Suspended, Renato Gaúcho celebrates Vasco’s win and highlights performance: “At 1-0, it was already a rout”

Rotation as strategy and necessity

The difficulty in keeping a settled starting lineup comes down to different factors. Injuries, suspensions, and physical fatigue amid a packed schedule directly influence the choices. At the same time, the rotation also reflects a clear tactical decision by Renato.

Since his arrival, the coach has already used 31 players, reinforcing the idea of a deep squad under constant evaluation. After the win over Olimpia, the manager himself highlighted this point when discussing the use of the group. Renato summed up the philosophy adopted at Vasco:

The statement reinforces the focus on internal competitiveness and the distribution of minutes among the players.

Dominant display and response on the pitch

On the pitch, Vasco responded immediately after the defeat to Corinthians. The team beat Olimpia 3-0 at São Januário in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana, with a dominant performance from start to finish.

Even with an alternative lineup, the team controlled the attacking play and built the result naturally. Johan Rojas played a central role in creation, while Ramon Rique emerged as one of the positive new faces in midfield.

The dynamic play down the flanks was decisive, with constant combinations: Puma Rodríguez and Adson on the right, as well as Nuno Moreira and Rojas on the left. The movement created space and broke down the opposition marking.

The first goal, scored by Puma, cemented the attack-versus-defense scenario. In the second half, Nuno Moreira and Adson added to the scoreline.

Adson and Puma Rodríguez had a great game – Photo: Dikran Sahagian/Vasco

Leadership and impact on Vasco’s atmosphere

With the result, Vasco moved from the bottom of the table to take over the lead in Group G with four points, edging Olimpia and Audax Italiano on goal difference.

More than just their position in the standings, the win brought relief after recent inconsistency. The solid performance boosted the squad’s confidence ahead of the next match.

The team returns to action in the derby against Flamengo at the Maracanã in the Brazilian Championship. Despite the differences in level and context, the result against Olimpia changes the atmosphere and the preparation for the clash.

Renato Gaúcho points out that he has a squad but still needs reinforcements – Photo: Jorge Rodrigues/AGIF

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