Sampaoli: Work in progress, rues misses, lacks holding midfielder | OneFootball

Coach Jorge Sampaoli gave an interview after Atlético’s 3-3 draw with Remo on Wednesday night (11th) at Arena MRV, for the 3rd round of the Brazilian Championship. With this result, Galo remains winless in the competition — two draws and one loss.

In the coach’s analysis, Atlético produced enough to build a more comfortable lead in the first half, but once again wasted opportunities, something that, according to him, has directly impacted the team’s stability.

“I believe this is a process that is just beginning. The first half today should have ended with a 4-goal difference. As I said in the last press conference, there are many missed opportunities and that doesn’t generate stability for a new group. The team wasn’t stable today and that’s why we suffered with so many transitions. The consolidation of a process requires you to keep working, and then the results will come,” he stated.

Galo managed to take the lead twice, but struggled with counterattacks and defensive errors, conceding the equalizer at the end of the match.

Debate about the defensive midfielder

Sampaoli was also asked about statements made by Atlético’s CSO, Paulo Bracks, in an interview with the HG Play channel, who said the squad has three options for the defensive midfielder role: Maycon, Alexsander, and Alan Franco. The coach disagreed with the assessment of the players’ profiles.

“I work with the players I have. None of the players mentioned have the characteristics of a lone defensive midfielder. They all need another player alongside them. They are players suited to play with two midfielders, not to play alone as a single defensive midfielder,” he explained.

The alvinegro manager also detailed his individual analysis, mentioning Maycon’s performance.

“By profile, by characteristic, or by position. Maycon, playing alone, is doing very well, but in some phases of the game he has more difficulty. So I believe they are all players suited to play in a formation with two midfielders. Or even to play with three midfielders,” he added.

Cassierra is not ready yet

Another topic addressed was the situation of striker Cassierra. The player was on the bench but did not come on, even though Sampaoli made only four substitutions during the second half:

Atlético returns to the field next Saturday (14th), when they face Itabirito in Nova Lima, for the last round of the first phase of the Campeonato Mineiro.

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