Corinthians sink amid injuries and exits as Fernando Diniz endures worst spell | OneFootball

Corinthians are in freefall, suffering six successive league defeats alongside cup exits in under two months. According to Globo.com, head coach Fernando Diniz said this has been the worst spell of his career across roughly 40 days.

The slide began on 30 July with a 0-0 draw at Athletico-PR using a rotated side, and ran through to Sunday’s loss to Fluminense, encompassing eliminations in the Copa do Brasil and the Conmebol Libertadores.

Early August brought a bruising Copa do Brasil exit in the round of 16. The holders lost 2-0 away to Internacional, then won only 2-1 in the return, bowing out on aggregate.

In the Libertadores, a 0-0 in Argentina and a narrow home win over Rosario Central carried Corinthians into the quarter-finals. Estudiantes then ended their run, a 1-1 first leg followed by a 1-0 home defeat, capped by Memphis Depay sending a last-minute penalty over the bar.

Key striker Yuri Alberto sustained a grade 2 left hamstring injury against Athletico-PR at the start of the sequence. He began his return but suffered a setback, and is due back only after the FIFA window.

Memphis, who stayed after a protracted contract saga backed by supporters, has struggled for form rather than fitness, while Rodrigo Garro is also below his best.

The six-match league skid equals a low from the 2006 points era. Corinthians remain outside the relegation zone, but hopes of Libertadores qualification are receding, and with no other competitions or games in hand the break offers time to work before the 29th round at Internacional on 7 October.

Source: Globo.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”