Dorival hails win over Atlético-MG as “best game” on São Paulo return | OneFootball

In a press conference after the 2-0 victory over Atlético-MG at Morumbi this Saturday (5), head coach Dorival Júnior described São Paulo’s performance as the team’s best since his return to the job in May.

The coach also highlighted the team’s tactical approach and called the fans’ role in the club’s turnaround in the Brazilian Championship “decisive.”

With the positive result — their second straight in the tournament — Tricolor reached 33 points and moved up to 10th place in the table.

Tactical dominance and control of the game

When analyzing the performance on the field, Dorival emphasized the squad’s ability to neutralize an opponent that had been unbeaten for 14 matches:

“It was the best match, without a doubt. Not because of the result, but because of the way we behaved. We pressed Atlético practically the entire game (…). Even so, with the balance of our marking, we managed to neutralize them. We faced a team that had not lost in 14 games, and the way São Paulo played with authority, involving the opponent when they had the ball, we created many situations. Rafael was called into action very little in this match because of everyone’s contribution.”

Support from the stands as fuel

The São Paulo manager also stressed the importance of the fans in restoring the group’s confidence during difficult moments in the season, drawing a parallel with previous campaigns:

“What has been inspiring us is the participation of our supporters, who, when they embrace the team, become fundamental (…). They believed in us at the most complicated and difficult moment of the competition and showed us an important path. That happened in 2017, it happened with me in 2023, and now it is happening again.”

Focus on the decisive stretch and clash in Argentina

Despite the improvement in the Brasileirão, Dorival dismissed any sense of complacency before the upcoming stretch, which includes an international knockout tie and a state derby.

The club returns to the field in the main national competition at 6:30 p.m. (Brasília time) next Saturday (12), when they face Palmeiras away from home in a derby. Before that, they have the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals against Boca Juniors in Argentina at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) on Tuesday (8).

“In football, you never feel relieved. The game ended here and we are already thinking about the next opponent. (…) On Tuesday we have a fundamental match, a South American classic. We will have to reach our limit in search of qualification,” the coach projected.

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