Gabriel Paulista on youngsters, Gustavo Henrique and Corinthians derby | OneFootball

The experience Gabriel Paulista built up over more than a decade in European football has taken on a new role since the center-back arrived at Corinthians. In addition to taking on responsibilities on the pitch, the defender is looking to use the journey he built at clubs such as Arsenal, Valencia, Villarreal, and Besiktas to help the younger players in the black-and-white squad.

In an exclusive interview with Central do Timão, Gabriel spoke about his relationship with the prospects developed at Parque São Jorge, highlighted his quick adaptation alongside Gustavo Henrique, and looked ahead to the derby against Santos this Sunday (30) at Neo Química Arena. The defender also left a message for the Fiel and reinforced the squad’s confidence in the pursuit of achievements throughout the season.

Photos: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

Experience in Europe and influence on the younger players

Before fulfilling his dream of wearing the Corinthians shirt, Gabriel built much of his career away from Brazil. Developed at Taboão da Serra and with a spell at Vitória, the center-back moved to Villarreal and later joined Arsenal. He then returned to Spanish football to play for Valencia, the club where he spent his longest period in Europe.

Looking back on the path he has taken, the defender highlighted how his experiences in Europe’s top leagues contributed to his development.

“As I said, my career so far has been wonderful, right? So there’s nothing… Just thanking God for giving me health and for giving me this opportunity to show my work. I grew a lot during that time abroad. As I said, I’m grateful to Taboão da Serra, which gave me the opportunity, and to Vitória. Then I went to Europe to play for Villarreal. I played a year and a half at Villarreal and was then sold to Arsenal, where I started to grow even more, to gain more experience in the best leagues, which are La Liga and the Premier League, the best leagues in the world.”

Gabriel also recalled his time at Valencia and the bond he created with the clubs he played for. Before arriving at Corinthians, the Brazilian also played for Turkey’s Besiktas, where he noticed similarities between Turkish fans and the level of demand found at Parque São Jorge.

“And then I went back to Spain again, where I had a long spell, the longest spell at one club. It was almost eight years at Valencia, where I had a brilliant career and also won titles with Valencia. Valencia had gone many years without winning. So I made my name at Valencia, as I did at the other clubs too. I have a story. At Vitória, there’s a photo of me there that they even put in the ‘Talent Factory.’ So, for me, that’s gratifying because of everything I achieved.”

“And now arriving here at Corinthians… I also had a short spell at Besiktas, where the fans love me because of the way I play. Sometimes the fan doesn’t want… It’s like the Corinthians fan. Sometimes they don’t want a player with flawless technical quality. They want desire, they want fight on the pitch. And Besiktas fans are very similar to Corinthians fans, that’s what they demand. So that spell there was special too.”

Now at Timão, the center-back intends to turn that experience into guidance for those just starting their professional careers. Gabriel mainly highlighted his efforts to help young players deal with the pressure that comes with their first steps in football.

“And coming here to Corinthians and trying to pass on everything I built with this experience I have. Trying to pass it on especially to the younger ones, the boys coming up from the academy. I try to share what I lived through and show them, take a little pressure off. Of course there’s a lot of pressure off the pitch. Sometimes it’s in the family too. It’s a pressure I had, the pressure of having to help my parents. So I tell them these things to try to take their focus away from what comes from outside.”

“And in here, try to enjoy it. Enjoy the moment, understand what Corinthians is. Enjoy everything we’re living, this structure that Corinthians has, the stadium, Neo Química Arena, the fans. So enjoy this wonderful moment, all of this here, the greatness that Corinthians is. I try to pass on everything I learned to the younger players.”

Gabriel sees Corinthians’ future in the youth ranks

Asked specifically about names such as Breno Bidon, André, Gui Negão, and Iago Machado, Gabriel said the youngsters are an important part of Corinthians’ future. The defender pointed out that Bidon and André have already earned their place, while Iago has been integrated into the first-team routine.

“These players are Corinthians’ future. Breno and André, who have been getting more opportunities, are starters for Corinthians today, so they are players who have already earned their space. Iago is a player who is getting the chance to train with us, has already been in some matches, so he’s gaining that experience, in that sense, of already being with the squad. Naturally, he’ll get his chance to play too, and I have no doubt that when he plays, he’ll show the potential he has as well, because he’s already part of Coringão’s future.”

The center-back also mentioned Gui Negão. In Gabriel’s view, the dip in form shown by the forward is part of any athlete’s development, and there is confidence that the youngster will return to showing his best football.

“And several other players also come up to train with the first team. Gui Negão also had many opportunities and ended up having… his performance dropped a little, but I believe that’s normal for all athletes, it happens to anyone. And I believe he’ll also come back in the best possible way to help us.”

The generation gap also leads to jokes in the locker room. Gabriel said some of the younger players grew up watching athletes from the current squad and now share daily life at the training ground with former idols.

“But that’s it. Sometimes in the locker room there’s that banter, and I even joke and say they’re calling me old. There’s always that kind of banter in the locker room. But Gui, for example, always comes up to me and says he still can’t believe he’s by my side, by Memphis’ side, by Gustavo’s side. So we’re a reference for him.”

For Gabriel, that admiration also increases the responsibility of the more experienced players.

“That’s gratifying and gives us even more pleasure in playing, in dedicating ourselves more and more and showing them that they also need to dedicate themselves more and more, because our career is short. So you have to make the most of every moment.”

Chemistry with Gustavo Henrique

If off the pitch Gabriel is looking to play a leadership role, on the pitch the center-back also highlighted the partnership he has built with Gustavo Henrique. The duo quickly developed chemistry in the Corinthians defense.

Gabriel, however, shared the defensive credit with Matheuzinho and Matheus Bidu and emphasized the full-backs’ growth.

“Of course our job is to defend, to try to do our best so Corinthians don’t concede. But I think it’s been a very good start. It was a very good connection between me and Gustavo. We managed to click quickly there. Of course it’s not just me and Gustavo helping to defend. There’s Matheuzinho and Bidu too, who are players improving defensively with every match. So they’ve been helping us a lot.”

In addition to his defensive work, Gustavo Henrique has been showing up offensively in important moments. Gabriel joked about his teammate’s ability to find the net and highlighted recent goals scored by number 13.

“But speaking about me and Gustavo, we’re managing to build that chemistry. And whenever possible, especially Gustavo… Gustavo has that goalscorer’s instinct. Sometimes we even joke about putting the other center-backs back and Gustavo up front so we can score more goals. But he’s a player who is in a special moment, a very good moment. The ball really does find him.”

“So, as I said, you have to make the most of the moment, this good moment. He helped us a lot, especially there against Santa Fé. We were at the very end of the game, losing, he goes into the box and scores a great goal. Now against Cruzeiro, he also scored a great goal. So he’s a player who is decisive in these moments.”

Gabriel looks ahead to the derby against Santos

Corinthians’ next challenge will be against a rival. This Sunday (30), Timão host Santos at Neo Química Arena in the Brazilian Championship.

Gabriel admitted he is eager to play another derby and treated the feeling before big matches as part of a player’s motivation.

“Man, the expectation… Of course there’s anxiety. There’s no way not to feel those butterflies in your stomach. I believe that a player who doesn’t feel that anymore no longer has that desire to play football. So those butterflies are normal, they’re a good feeling.”

With tickets sold out for the match, the defender also highlighted the role of the fans and said the squad needs to respond to that support with intensity on the pitch.

“The Fiel, no words. I don’t even say anything because they’re different. They really are different. They go to the Arena, fill the Arena, support us so much. So I think the least we can do is step onto the pitch with the greatest determination possible, the best preparation possible, be 100% switched on for every play so we can have a great game and get a positive result.”

Although Corinthians are also involved in the Copa Libertadores, Gabriel made it clear that the Brazilian Championship cannot take a back seat.

“We need to pick up points in the Brazilian Championship, not just think about the Libertadores. Of course our goal is to win the Libertadores, but we also can’t neglect the Brazilian Championship. We need to collect points. And when it comes to a derby, we have to win the game.”

Message to the Fiel

At the end of the exclusive interview with Central do Timão, Gabriel Paulista was invited to leave a message for the fans. The center-back highlighted the support he has received inside and outside Neo Química Arena and described the Fiel as an active part of the team.

“It’s even hard to talk to them like this. But it’s just about thanking them, always thanking them, because they are our 12th player, they really step onto the pitch with us. They help us, they support us so much. Whether at home or away. When we play away, it feels like we’re at home. These guys are different. It’s a different fanbase, there’s nothing like it. It doesn’t exist, it doesn’t exist in the world.”

Gabriel ended by projecting a positive finish to the season for Corinthians and showed confidence that the current squad will be able to repay the support from the stands with results and achievements.

“And that’s it. What they do there in the stands, we also try to take as much as possible from that so they can leave the stadium proud of the players Corinthians have in the squad today. And by the end of the season, for sure they will… they’ll leave with a lot of joy because of this squad here, because we’re going to achieve some very good things for them.”

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