"Best under pressure": Zubeldía picks Nonato over Hércules in semi-final | OneFootball

After the first duel of the Copa do Brasil semifinal, coach Luis Zubeldía explained the tactical reasons that led him to start Nonato in Fluminense's midfield, leaving Hércules as an option on the bench. According to the coach, the decision did not involve physical issues, as both players are in good condition, but rather the need for a specific characteristic in game construction.

Zubeldía highlighted that Nonato's presence offers the team "more movement" to escape the opponent's pressure, as well as enhancing ball distribution in both short and long passes. The coach cited as an example a pass made by the midfielder to Everaldo during the match and emphasized that this choice allows Lucho Acosta to be more liberated for offensive roles.

When comparing the options, the coach described Hércules as a "more physical" player with a characteristic of penetrating the opponent's area ("getting into the box"), but offering less mobility in the initial phase of construction compared to Nonato.

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