Corinthians defender assesses training week before Santos derby | OneFootball

On the morning of this Wednesday (26), Corinthians returned to training at CT Dr. Joaquim Grava after being given two days off following the 2-1 loss to Coritiba last Sunday (24), in a match valid for the 24th round of the Brazilian Championship. Next Sunday (30), at 4 p.m., Alvinegro will host Santos at Neo Química Arena for the 25th round of the national competition.

Center-back Gustavo Henrique gave an interview to Corinthians TV, the club’s official channel on YouTube, and analyzed the importance of having a free training period, without midweek commitments as had been happening. It is the longest time available for adjustments since the break for the World Cup, which took place between June 11 and July 19.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

“It was important for us to have days off. We made the most of it. Now that we’re back, we’re focused on training hard. We know it’s a very important match for us. We’re going to dedicate ourselves every day to what the coach asks of us in training so that we arrive very prepared on Sunday and put in a great performance,” he said.

Timão’s medical department currently has the following players: center-back André Ramalho (recovering from a bout of labyrinthitis), defensive midfielder André Luiz (grade 2 injury to the back of the right thigh), midfielders Vitinho (recovering from surgery on the meniscus in his left knee) and Zakaria Labyad (undergoing recovery after surgery following a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee), as well as forward Kayke Ferrari (recovering from surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee).

At the moment, Corinthians sit 10th in the Brazilian Championship with 32 points — eight wins, eight draws, and eight losses — with 26 goals scored and 24 conceded. In addition, until the end of the season, Timão will also play in the quarterfinals of the Conmebol Libertadores against Estudiantes, in the weeks of September 8 and 15. Having had the better campaign, Alvinegro will play the second leg at home.

Signed at the start of 2024, after spells at other clubs in Brazil and a short time in Europe, Gustavo Henrique is one of the pillars of Corinthians’ system, having played a part in the club’s historic surge in the Brasileirão two years ago (from the relegation zone to the Libertadores qualifying stage) and being a starter in the Campeonato Paulista (2025), Copa do Brasil (2025), and Supercopa do Brasil (2026) title wins. Overall, he has 12 goals and four assists in 114 matches for Timão, with 54 wins, 24 draws, and 36 losses — a 54.4% success rate.

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