Artur Jorge hails Cruzeiro response, eyes ‘final’ with Flamengo

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·17 August 2026

Artur Jorge hails Cruzeiro response, eyes ‘final’ with Flamengo

Artur Jorge left Neo Química Arena satisfied with Cruzeiro’s response in the 2-1 win over Corinthians this Sunday (16), in the 23rd round of the Brazilian Championship. With an alternative lineup, the team from Belo Horizonte fell behind in the second half, but scored again and secured three away points with a goal from Wanderson, ending a 20-match drought.

In the post-match press conference, the coach highlighted the commitment of the players who were given an opportunity against Corinthians. For Artur Jorge, the result cannot be analyzed only by the three points won, but by the way the squad performed in a match played amid a run of important fixtures.

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“We can’t sum up this night to just the three points and the result. That’s the most important thing in the end, but for me personally, I’m very pleased because it was a win earned through a lot of desire and a great commitment from the team. Players who worked the way I asked, as a team. Even those I had less time with. Today, with this opportunity, they gave a great response. Today it wasn’t Artur who won, nor A or B. Cruzeiro won, and they were very competent. A great football match, intense teams, a fantastic atmosphere. We won because we were efficient and competent. That’s the effectiveness I want.”

“Winning hides the fatigue”

Cruzeiro had to manage the physical toll of a packed schedule. After the clash with Corinthians, the team is already turning its attention to Flamengo on Wednesday (19), for the second leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16.

The teams drew 1-1 at Mineirão, and the winner at the Maracanã will advance to the quarterfinals. In the event of another draw, qualification will be decided on penalties.

Artur Jorge acknowledged the demands of the stretch, but said positive results help the team deal emotionally with the wear and tear.

“It’s a demanding period for us and we have to prepare in the best possible way. What hides tiredness and fatigue is winning. We have to have the ability to fight and win all the time, because that brings a different kind of energy. It makes us emotionally more capable, and we need everyone to have that willingness in order to maintain the intensity of games like we had and like we’ll have on Wednesday. Our first Libertadores final is on Wednesday. After that, everything that comes next in the league — we’ve come a long way from behind and we want to do well in what are also the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals.”

Artur Jorge praises Otávio

Another topic addressed by the coach was goalkeeper Otávio. Starting against Corinthians, the young player developed in Cruzeiro’s youth ranks had another opportunity and received praise from Artur Jorge.

The coach emphasized the player’s development and said the club trusts the goalkeeper to take over the position in the future.

“He truly is a great prospect we have. He’s a goalkeeper from our academy, he waited for his opportunity, and it came at a very young stage for him to be able to compete. As of today, having already played the matches he has — I don’t know how many in the Libertadores, but enough to be prepared. We all have to know how to deal with pressure, intensity, and demands, and Otávio, despite being young, has shown that. We trust all our players, and he is indeed one of the assets we have in the group. He’s a player we’re backing to take over Cruzeiro’s goal, he has delivered and has been competent. There’s still growth to come here and there, and he’ll keep improving through his work and dedication. He’s a player we believe in a lot, and he is ready to deliver.”

Decisive run

With Cruzeiro still alive in the season’s three main competitions, Artur Jorge also looked ahead to the run of decisive matches. The Portuguese coach said he prefers to be involved in high-level clashes and stated that this is the scenario he works for every day.

“That’s what I expect as a coach. As things move along, we realize that fact. We’re fortunate to always have this level of performance. There are three games coming with two days between each one, all highly demanding, and for me, that’s the flavor of football and what makes me enjoy it. I don’t live for games A, B, or C — I live to be in the big moments. Competing against the best, in decisive matches, that’s what I work for every day, and I want my team to work with that expectation too, because it’s a sign that we’ve made it there and that we’ll keep doing and giving our best for Cruzeiro.”

Cruzeiro return to action on Wednesday (19) at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) to face Flamengo at the Maracanã. After the Libertadores decider, the team will continue its run in the Brazilian Championship and the Copa do Brasil, competitions in which it also remains in contention.

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