Crespo hails São Paulo form, hopes Marcos Antônio injury minor | OneFootball

Hernán Crespo was all smiles after São Paulo's 2-0 victory over Atlético-MG this Sunday at Morumbi. The coach celebrated the team's good moment, which has gone eight games unbeaten in the Brazilian Championship, and also spoke about Marcos Antônio's situation.

The midfielder left the match in the first half with pain in the back of his left thigh. Crespo said the substitution was out of concern and praised the player, who was on the preliminary list for the Brazilian National Team and was hoping to be called up by Carlo Ancelotti this Monday.

Crespo hopes it is just a scare. Marcos Antônio will undergo tests on Monday to understand the severity of the issue.

“Of course, it's a source of pride for Marcos Antônio. We're talking about the Brazilian National Team. He's playing at a great level, he deserves it. Today he left as a precaution, I hope it's nothing,” said the Argentine coach.

Crespo prefers not to lament the absences but to celebrate São Paulo's good phase. He joked that “everything is going right” and valued the team's commitment, especially after a grueling Libertadores match.

“We have to value those who played today, after a tough game in the Libertadores. It's very exhausting, I have to congratulate the athletes. It's not easy to recharge the batteries and be well, with this aggression, this courage,” declared the coach.

“It's a good, nice moment. Everything is going right. There's a great commitment from the athletes. The squad is hungry. We have to continue on this path, with our feet on the ground. I think we're going to have many possibilities and good things,” he added.

São Paulo's next commitment will be in a week. On Saturday, the team will go to Belo Horizonte to face the runner-up Cruzeiro at Mineirão. The match, valid for the 22nd round of the Brasileirão, is scheduled for 9 PM (Brasília time).

With the 2-0 victory over Atlético-MG, Tricolor stayed close to the G6. The team is in seventh place, with 32 points, the same score as sixth-placed Mirassol.

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