Dória: I can help São Paulo, lots to come this year | OneFootball

Defender Matheus Dória is the newest addition to São Paulo for the season. The third signing of the season, the 31-year-old defender was introduced last Tuesday and explained how he can help the team led by Hernán Crespo, revealing that he is already used to the three-center-back system. He has, therefore, made himself available to the coaching staff.

“There [in Mexico], I played under several coaches who used a three-man backline. There are several ways to play with three at the back. Sometimes, just three and the rest of the team attacking, sometimes a very fixed line of five. I learned throughout my career. I’ve played on the left side and in the last championship, with more left-footed defenders, I played more centrally. Wherever they put me, I’m fine. I even played on the right as well [laughs]. There was a tournament with three left-footers in defense, and I played on the right side. In defense, you can put me anywhere. Whatever the coach chooses, I’m here to help,” said the defender.

Since returning to São Paulo, Crespo has adopted the 3-5-2 system, with three center-backs and two wing-backs. For this, the Argentine coach needs healthy defenders — last season, for example, Tricolor had to improvise in the sector at certain times. The arrival of a new defender, therefore, is crucial for the team.

“It’s a formation that people think is only defensive, but I learned that’s not true. I also thought that at some point in my career. I won many games there playing with three defenders, and the team was very offensive. I saw that it’s not just about being a defensive team. It’s a matter of a lot of communication. It’s a formation that can sometimes complicate one player or another, but good communication solves everything,” Dória evaluated.

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"Leader ProfileDória arrived at São Paulo with a contract valid until the end of 2027, with an automatic renewal for one more year if certain goals are met. The defender commented on his leadership profile and revealed that he likes to set an example for his teammates, taking advantage of the club’s facilities to improve as a player.“That’s something natural [leadership], it doesn’t have to be forced. I’m not coming with the mission to be a leader, to be the savior of the country and change everything. Whatever I can do to help my teammates, I’ll do. I like to set an example. I arrive early, I like to use everything the club can offer me, recovery time, nutrition. Whatever I can improve by 1% with what the club can provide, I’ll use it,” said the athlete.This is how Dória believes he can also help his teammates: by being an example of commitment and dedication, especially for the younger players.“I feel I can get five or six guys who will see this example and want to do the same. Many examples you set and demonstrate on the field, you end up bringing along teammates who want to do the same. Resting, eating well, doing preventive work. I debuted very early, at 17, and throughout this time, I’ve come to the conclusion that only this way can you solve problems. It sounds cliché, but everything in football is solved by working. That’s how I think I can help my teammates too,” he commented.(Photo: Rubens Chiri / São Paulo FC)Outlook for 2026Finally, Dória dismissed any concern about São Paulo’s negative result in their season opener — the team lost 3-0 to Mirassol, away from home, in the Campeonato Paulista. The defeat raised an alert for Luciano, who admitted it could be a “difficult year” for the club. The new defender, however, has a different view.“That [squad] was one of the reasons I accepted to return to São Paulo: the roster. The group has very high-quality players. I think like this: it was the first game, guys. Very little pre-season, people arriving, people leaving. You can’t let things from last year drag on and say it’s going to be a tough year after the first game. We’re still getting settled, people are still in pre-season rhythm, getting up to speed,” Dória analyzed.São Paulo will compete in four tournaments this season: Copa do Brasil, Paulista, Campeonato Brasileiro, and Copa Sudamericana. Dória predicts that 2026 could be a positive year for the club.“I feel it’s going to be a very good year. São Paulo will play in the Sudamericana, and there are teams that don’t even have that. We have to value it. We have a very good structure to work with, four tournaments to play. There’s a lot to happen. We have to treat every game as a final and always want to improve, day by day,” the athlete concluded.Upcoming São Paulo matchesSão Paulo vs São Bernardo (second round of the Paulistão)Date and time: 01/15 (Thursday), at 9:45 PM (Brasília time)Venue: Morumbis, in São Paulo (SP)Corinthians vs São Paulo (third round of the Paulistão)Date and time: 01/18 (Sunday), at 4:00 PM (Brasília time)Venue: Neo Química Arena, in São Paulo (SP)

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