Gustavo Henrique on Bahia loss: lessons learned, eyes Flamengo

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Central do Timão

·29 January 2026

Gustavo Henrique on Bahia loss: lessons learned, eyes Flamengo

By Henrique Pereira / Central do Timão Editorial Team

After Corinthians' 2-1 defeat to Bahia this Wednesday (28), defender Gustavo Henrique spoke to the press and analyzed the team's performance, addressing everything from the feeling of playing at Vila Belmiro to the decisive mistakes of the match and the anticipation for the Supercopa do Brasil against Flamengo.

Starting in the match, the defender highlighted the emotion of returning to play at Vila, a stadium where he built an important part of his career, and made sure to reinforce his respect for Santos, while affirming his current commitment to Corinthians.

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Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Ag. Corinthians

“For me, it's always special to play here, I have eternal gratitude, a very big one for Santos, I respect the club a lot, the fans, today I represent Corinthians, it's very special for me to return, I said a prayer before, thanking for the opportunity, regardless of anything, my gratitude for Santos will be eternal, today I represent Corinthians, and wherever I play I will always try to do my best”, said the player.

On the field, Gustavo Henrique acknowledged the difficulties imposed by Bahia, especially due to the speed of the opposing attack. The defender detailed the play of the goal that turned the match, taking responsibility and treating the mistake as a learning experience.

“Bahia has very fast players up front, as I mentioned, they set up a line of four, a line of five, and when they steal the ball they are very vertical, with Ademir, with Pulga. I was providing cover, there I had a wrong timing with the ball, I thought I would get there with Ademir, he managed to flick it with his head, if I'm not mistaken, and ended up taking me out of the play, I still tried to commit a foul, but maybe being the last man I could have been sent off. I still managed to get back, there was a rebound there that I couldn't, actually, see the play like that yet, but if I'm not mistaken, the ball hits me, hits Raniele, hits Hugo and still remains”, he commented.

“Anyway, it was a goal that changed the game, they managed to make it 2-1, closed even more, in the second half we had chances, even at 1-0 we could have extended the result, unfortunately, we couldn't, but this play serves as a learning experience, I know my limitations, and I also know my quality. So it's about studying, I know a bit about Flamengo's team, the players there, and it's about trying to neutralize, it will be very difficult, but we will prepare to do our best”, he added.

Asked about Flamengo's favoritism in the decision, Gustavo Henrique acknowledged the opponent's strength but emphasized the balance and confidence of the alvinegro squad for a single game on neutral ground.

“Man, I've played there and I know the quality of the players there, for them having won the Libertadores, having won the Brazilian, we know their team is very strong, has a very strong squad, but we are motivated and are closing in more and more, because we know it's one game, a game totally different from two games, a game at the opponent's house, or at our house, it will be a neutral game, where both fans will be, as you said, the team on the other side has a lot of quality, but on our side too, so I believe it will be a very open game, where we will train a lot, prepare a lot to make a great game and seek this title”, he stated.

The defender also projected how the fans can expect Corinthians against Flamengo, highlighting tactical differences of the Rio opponent compared to Bahia and the need for offensive adjustments.

“Man, first of all, I believe Flamengo plays differently from Bahia's team, Flamengo's team tries to press most of the game up there, and as I said several times here, Bahia's team closed very well, played with a line of four, a line of five, where it's a somewhat passive marking, but at the same time it's very difficult to penetrate, because they are very compact and taking away our width, which is our play that we can create”, said the defender.

“In the second half especially, we tried to force many plays through the middle, and that's where they had more players, but it's about continuing to try, continuing to position well, to first break that first line, and then attack the spaces, attack the last line so we can create, and consequently try to score more goals”, he continued.

Finally, Gustavo Henrique assessed the weight of a possible victory in the final for the alvinegra season and the impact for the Corinthians fans, reinforcing confidence in the team's ability to compete at a high level.

“I believe so, especially because we have already shown that we can fight on equal terms, we played a Copa do Brasil, we finished the season practically a month ago, we didn't even have time to celebrate properly, to rest, Flamengo already had more days, already had more time, but regardless of who plays on the other side, we know the qualities, we know there is quality on the other side”, said the defender.

“Here there is also a lot of quality, here they will have to run a lot after us without the ball, they will have to mark a lot after us, we will prepare to press them up there, when we can, we will play, regardless of the opponent, we will always try to play on equal terms with everyone, in our way, in our style of being, in our style of dueling for every ball, so I believe it will be a great final, and by neutralizing their team, we have everything to win this title”, he concluded.

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