Cuca banks on reduced travel to recharge Santos after 13-hour trip and altitude | OneFootball

After a 13-hour trek to Ambato, Ecuador, for the Copa Sudamericana, where a 0-0 at Macará sealed a quarter-final place, Cuca is banking on reduced travel to recharge Santos for a demanding spell in the Brasileirão and Copa do Brasil.

The journey included a flight and a bus leg, and the team faced 2,600 metres of altitude and a poor surface that blunted both sides. Cuca and his squad underlined those hurdles. According to Globo.com, the next fortnight keeps Santos in the Baixada Santista and São Paulo, aiding recovery between games.

In Ecuador the coach rotated, leaving Neymar, Gabigol, Igor Vinícius and Barreal at home. Escobar was suspended and also missed out.

Cuca said he would not guarantee selections, that those in condition would play, and that energy can at times matter more than pure technique.

This Sunday Santos host Mirassol at Vila Belmiro in the 24th round of the league. On Wednesday they visit Palmeiras at Nubank Parque in the Copa do Brasil quarter-finals. On 30 August they return to São Paulo for the 25th round against Corinthians.

On 2 September they host Palmeiras in the return leg. Travel resumes on 5 September to Porto Alegre to face Internacional on 6 September in the 26th round.

Source: Globo.com

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