Dorival Júnior assesses Corinthians' form in this season's Brasileirão

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Central do Timão

·22 November 2025

Dorival Júnior assesses Corinthians' form in this season's Brasileirão

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

On the evening of last Thursday (20), Corinthians hosted São Paulo in the Majestoso derby, valid for the 34th round of the Brazilian Championship, at Neo Química Arena, and won by a score of 3-1. The goals for the Alvinegro were scored by striker Yuri Alberto, twice, and Memphis Depay. The result placed the team in tenth position with 45 points (12 wins, nine draws, and 13 losses – 38 goals scored and 39 conceded).

In a press conference with journalists after the match, coach Dorival Júnior assessed the team's performance in this edition of the Brasileirão. The manager believes that Corinthians deserved to be in a better position in the tournament but, due to absences in most games, difficulties arose along the way.

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Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

Furthermore, the coach believes that, on many occasions, Corinthians performed satisfactorily, but for a series of reasons did not achieve the expected results. Dorival also mentioned that the current squad has been in the process of formation since the second half of last year, with most players remaining at Alvinegro, and only a few signings (just two) this year.

“Well, we are always testing and being tested, both the players on the field and us as the coaching staff. We are constantly being observed and monitored regarding our production, work, and dedication. What I see is an evolution in Corinthians' work since last year. And this is largely due to the work done thanks to Fabinho's presence, the security he provides, and the same security passed on by the president to all of us, which has made a huge difference. Overall, I think it's a championship with many problems that we faced throughout the season. It wasn't easy, it wasn't simple. We went through many moments, but I think as a team we matured a lot. We are working very seriously, with a lot of dedication, trying to extract and bring out the best, trying to make our team feel confident for such an important moment that, God willing, we will experience in a few days,” he began.

Next, he projected the final four rounds of the Brasileirão. With relegation chances practically zeroed out, Corinthians still dreams of a spot in the preliminary phase of the Conmebol Libertadores via the Brasileirão. Currently, the seventh-placed team—the first inside the qualifying zone for the next edition of the national tournament—is Bahia, with 53 points.

Dorival Júnior also praised the support he has received from the board, led by president Osmar Stabile and football executive Fabinho Soldado.

“We will have two games that will be fundamental. We will have four more games, four finals to close out the Brazilian Championship. It's always preparation. We have to intensify all of this. I think the team is evolving. We have only one year of formation with this team, if we honestly observe what has been happening. That's why, for me, it's a very fair campaign by Corinthians. It's a campaign with many difficulties, but above all, with a lot of dignity from all the players in our working group and our management, which has given us great support so that we can focus only on the technical side on the field. And that's what, thank God, has been happening. Could we be in a better position? Maybe we could. Or should. But it wasn't easy. It wasn't a simple year. And the difficulties we had, yes, they need to be taken into account. because it was a year that demanded a lot from all of us,” he continued.

Later, he spoke about the team's margin for improvement as they look ahead to the decisive matches at the end of the season, including the semifinals of the Copa do Brasil against Cruzeiro. The Corinthians coach also analyzed the match against São Paulo—the difficulties imposed by the opponent in the second half, as well as an overview of his work so far.

“We have a team that is still seeking consistency. It is still achieving it and is in a process of formation. With the variations we had, with the changes we had, which were very abrupt throughout the season, the difficulties were a bit greater for us to find a more defined pattern. We are starting to have all the players available. Now, even so, from one day to the next, you end up losing one or two players. It's a natural situation. São Paulo also had many difficulties in formation. Anyway. That's what's been happening to all of us. That's why, for the stage Corinthians is at, I think Corinthians is having a campaign a bit above what we even imagined and heard in relation to everything the fans were telling us.”

“Of course, we all want the best results, the best positions, standings, and so on. But all of this is a process. And Corinthians needs to evolve as a team, needs to grow as a team, in many aspects still. Difficulties, problems, we will have. Today we played a very different first half, playing most of the time in São Paulo's attacking half. Right at the turn of the match, we had a breakdown, causing a bad situation, in which we had to work hard to turn things around again. So, I think all of this is part of it. It's the day-to-day being resolved, it's like 'changing the tire while the car is moving,' as many say. For me, that's what it's like. That's what has happened throughout this whole process. This period that I have been here. And it won't be different. Until the end of the year, I believe. And hoping that we will or that we have most of the players available so we can try to make the best decisions for each match,” he added.

Finally, Dorival Júnior was asked about the team's progress after training during the last FIFA break of the season and highlighted the issue of the team's inconsistency due to the problems faced throughout this year, as well as the quality of the teams Corinthians faced.

“I think we had, we had very good things, we had things we couldn't do, for example, against Bragantino and against Ceará here at home. On the other hand, we also had some situations that leave us with doubts. So, these are situations, as I said, processes, processes that, when respected, lead to objectives. When processes are not respected, you will continue to be carried away by the moment, by the situation, by a result here, another there, but not with absolute consistency. What we still need is this, consistency. It's a team that's finding itself. Sometimes it fluctuates. Within the same match, it ends up fluctuating. Difficulties are normal. We are always facing great teams, who are at the same point level in the table. These are natural difficulties that we will always encounter. Of course, we work so that all of this is resolved, but it's not simple,” he concluded.

Corinthians now remains focused on the national competition. Next Sunday (23), at 8:30 pm (Brasília time), the Alvinegro will visit Cruzeiro at Mineirão Stadium for the 35th round of the Brazilian Championship, in a preview of the two matches of the Copa do Brasil semifinals.

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