Garro calls for soul-searching after Corinthians loss, worried by form | OneFootball

On Sunday afternoon (30), Corinthians hosted Santos at Neo Química Arena for the 25th round of the 2026 Brazilian Championship and was defeated 1-0. With the result, the club from Parque São Jorge remained in 10th place with 32 points, totaling eight wins, eight draws, and nine losses, in addition to 26 goals scored and 25 conceded.

After the Clássico Alvinegro, Rodrigo Garro spoke to the press in the mixed zone at Neo Química Arena. The number 10 showed dissatisfaction with Timão’s current moment in the Brasileirão, acknowledged that the team’s performances do not match the quality of the squad, and said the moment calls for work, humility, and self-criticism.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca / Corinthians Agency

The defeat against Santos was Corinthians’ third straight in the national competition. Before the derby, Fernando Diniz’s team had been beaten by Cruzeiro and Coritiba, both by 2-1 scorelines.

“Yes, we are… I, personally, and the group are very upset about this defeat. It’s already three defeats, something we never imagined would happen at any point. But today, there’s nothing to say. Today is the time to work, to be humble, to be self-critical, and to understand the things we have to improve, the things I believe we can improve. We can win many more games, we have a very good group, a very good team. And I think that hasn’t really been reflected on the pitch, right? So that’s it, we have to work a little harder.”

Garro comments on difficulties creating against deep defenses

One of the problems Corinthians have faced in recent matches has been creating attacking plays against opponents who sit deep. Against Santos, Timão once again frequently relied on crosses while trying to find spaces to reach the goal.

Garro explained that rivals know Corinthians’ style of playing with the ball on the ground and through close combinations. With less space available, the Argentine mentioned crosses, long-range shots, and one-twos as some of the alternatives to break through that kind of marking.

“Yes, I understand that today we were also up against a deep defensive line. Teams know that we play with the ball at our feet, we play through combinations. So they drop back, and the only way to break that deep line is with a cross, a shot from distance, a one-two. I understand that the fans are upset; I’m upset too. The group gets really down when these things happen. But, as I said, we have to find a way to work. There’s no point in coming here and talking about the things we can improve. We just have to close the door there, work internally, so that when things happen here, they go right and the fans are happier.”

Number 10 acknowledges poor efficiency from set pieces

Set pieces were also addressed by the midfielder. While Santos found the net precisely after a Neymar free-kick, Corinthians had opportunities from similar situations but failed to turn them into effective chances.

Garro acknowledged that this aspect is usually one of the team’s strengths, but admitted that their execution in the derby was below expectations. Once again, the Argentine avoided looking for outside excuses and reinforced the need to improve in training.

“Yes, I think set pieces are one of our strengths. Today, we weren’t able to make it work at any point. But, as I said, it’s something we have to work on, something we have to improve. There’s no point in coming here to talk and look for excuses. I think we have to be self-critical, improve, and each person has to focus on getting better. And I have no doubt that, going forward, we’ll have better results, because our team and our coach are people who compete, who fight. We live 24 hours a day inside the club, wanting to do our best for Corinthians.”

Now, after hosting Santos in Itaquera, Corinthians will once again have a full week of training, but the team will remain focused on the Brazilian Championship. Next Sunday (6), at 7:30 p.m. Brasília time, Timão will host Chapecoense, also at Neo Química Arena, for the 26th round of the national competition.

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