Back-to-back starts, Fagner sees Cruzeiro ready for busy spell

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·13 April 2026

Back-to-back starts, Fagner sees Cruzeiro ready for busy spell

After the come-from-behind win over Red Bull Bragantino, Cruzeiro gained not only three points but also signs of improvement on the pitch. One of the key figures in the result, Fagner played a direct role in the equalizer still in the first half, finding a precise through ball for Néiser Villarreal, who beat the defense with his speed and finished well.

The move highlighted one of Cruzeiro’s main weapons in the match: balls played in behind the opposing defense. The assist was also the full-back’s second in a row, as he had already provided a decisive pass in the win over Barcelona-EQU in the Copa Libertadores.

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With more room in the team after Artur Jorge’s arrival, Fagner is beginning to get a run of games this season. The match against Bragantino marked his 11th appearance in 2026, only his seventh as a starter, a number that underlines his gradual return to prominence after a start to the year with few opportunities.

As he left the pitch, in an interview with Samuca TV, the full-back highlighted the team’s change in attitude amid a period of pressure and praised the collective improvement.

“In this delicate moment we had been going through, with some players lacking confidence because of the difficult spell and the pressure, I believe that today we saw a different Cruzeiro, more confident, knowing what it needs to do during the game. That toughness is important over the course of the season, and little by little we are understanding, absorbing, and creating room for improvement within Artur’s work. We still have a lot to improve.”

Despite the win, the situation in the table still requires attention. Cruzeiro remain close to the relegation zone and will have to deal with a demanding schedule in the coming weeks. Fagner stressed the need for mental balance to handle the different competitions.

“We have to think game by game. We can’t think about qualifying in the Libertadores knowing there are still five difficult matches, and we also can’t think about Saturday’s game against Grêmio without thinking about the Libertadores. We celebrate today and go home happy, but already looking ahead to Wednesday’s game, which will be difficult, and after that match we turn our attention back to the league. We know the schedule is packed, but we have to be clear-headed enough to quickly understand which competition we are playing in, while knowing that a home win puts us in a good position in the group, but doesn’t decide anything. The most important thing is for the team to win, build maturity, and gain confidence for the rest of the competitions.”

Finally, the full-back also commented on the competition for places and assured that he is ready to keep contributing to the team, leaving the decision in the hands of the coaching staff.

“I’m feeling good, you have to take care of yourself and eat well to be at your best. The decision is always the manager’s, and he will choose whoever is best for that day. Whoever plays, we know will do their best, and Cruzeiro are the ones who benefit from it.”

After the win over Bragantino, Cruzeiro reached 10 points and end the round in 17th place, one point behind Corinthians, the first team outside the relegation zone. Now, the team turns its attention to the Copa Libertadores, where it faces Universidad Católica at home on Wednesday (15) at 7 p.m. (Brasília time).

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

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Back-to-back starts, Fagner sees Cruzeiro ready for busy spell | OneFootball

Back-to-back starts, Fagner sees Cruzeiro ready for busy spell

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