Artur Jorge hails Cruzeiro display after rout of Barcelona, through | OneFootball

“The key thing, and I told my players this, was that I was calm and confident for this match because I fully trusted my players, their commitment, and above all their ambition. We played a very good game, I’m talking about performance. It was a must-win game.”

“We’ve reached this stage of the competition and, I’ll say it again, this was the toughest group in this phase of the Libertadores, and we got here depending only on ourselves. We had a balanced campaign. What stands out negatively is the result against Católica at home. But we were consistent away under difficult circumstances, in Chile and Argentina, and at home with two wins. That’s what needed to be done.”

“I’d say it was a game in which the players showed great character, driven on by the fans. We carried the responsibility, our responsibility, of reaching this second phase of the Libertadores. Today we accomplished what was the main objective.”

“I don’t think Barcelona are an inferior team. They are a capable team that has value not only collectively but individually as well. We approached the game with the respect it deserved, so that we would have respect for ourselves. An early goal helps, it makes the team more comfortable in the game, but it didn’t cause the team to ease off; they stayed dynamic, with great intensity, putting in a very consistent performance. We had a great Libertadores spectacle.”

“It puts us in the round of 16. We knew it was a group of very tightly contested matches, where every point would be fought for. The Libertadores will depend on the draw, on the first home match, because we’ll decide away. But it opens up the perspective that we are in South America’s biggest competition and in the fight for this trophy.”

“It was, above all, work. Commitment, the ability to improve, being demanding with ourselves, preparing for each game, intelligent, versatile players who want to compete and have the ambition to be in these battles. A combination of several factors, but also the connection that allowed us to try to get the best out of the squad’s assets. Today is a happy day for us, but we already have the next game ahead and we have to keep this same level of demand. The season is long, there is still a lot to achieve and many games to play. And then start well again after the break.”

“I don’t know if it’s different, but I know what we do and what we seek within the club itself. What we do is, at the end of every game, put all the players through the recovery process, because we believe that in Brazil this is one of the most decisive factors. It’s important. It has to do with taking care of the athlete, physical recovery, nutrition, rest when we have space between matches, and being what we need to be: a complete team in our work.”

“Our size is our place. The position where we finished in this group. It’s always about being one more team; we are no more or less, we are a team with ambition, one that wants to go as far as possible and be ready for whatever the draw may bring. From that point on, luck is set aside, and our competence is what will make us advance in the competition.”

“It convinced me. I don’t know if it convinced you. Today I was satisfied. I told the players it’s important to enjoy it. We came away satisfied not only because of the result, but because of the football, because of what I saw, because of the spectacle of football. Today is a happy day for football and for Cruzeiro.”

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