Hugo Souza hails Corinthians fightback, André, eyes Libertadores | OneFootball

Corinthians wrapped up the first part of the season with an important 3-1 win over Grêmio at the Arena do Grêmio, in the 18th round of the Brazilian Championship. After the match, goalkeeper Hugo Souza spoke in the mixed zone and commented on the team’s recovery after the defeat to Platense, the squad’s progress under Fernando Diniz, André Ramalho’s current moment, as well as expectations for the Libertadores round of 16 clash.

At first, Hugo highlighted the importance of the away result and stressed that the team needed to head into the break on a positive note.

Photos: Victor Lannes/Agência Corinthians

“Defeat is hard, especially for me. I think we played a great game. Congratulations to the team for the way we approached today’s match. After those first ten minutes, when they scored and everything, we managed to impose our game and be the better side for most of the match. And the result came, thank God. So we’re very happy. It’s an important game, and we needed these points to put ourselves in a comfortable position in the league and now keep going, rest well, and come back even better.”

Next, the goalkeeper was asked about what had been worked on during the week for the match against Grêmio, and he also commented on the disappointment of not making Brazil’s final squad list for the World Cup.

“We know that’s one more thing people will talk about. But everyone made mistakes, everyone had a below-par game, and everyone knows we can improve, and today we came in with that mindset. We’re now going to have fifty days off until the next match. So we’ll have a period of rest, of vacation now. We really needed these three points so we could also stop with a feeling of mission accomplished, a feeling that we’re on the right path. And I think we managed to do that during the game.

The sadness definitely happened, but it’s passed. I keep working the same way. I always have to give my all for Corinthians. I was only on the national team’s preliminary list and had the expectation of going to the World Cup. So what Corinthians gave me was the work that made that possible for me. No matter what, I’ll keep rooting for Brazil to do well. And, God willing, I’ll stay here supporting them and prepare myself a lot so that the next cycle comes too. I’m going to take care of my mother, who’s a little weak right now. Now we’ll have time for that. I’m also going to take care of my mother, who’s been right there with me through this whole fight. So, God willing, we’re going to make the most of it.”

When analyzing the match, Hugo explained the moment when he felt Corinthians had taken control of the game on the field.

“Man, I think it was still in the first half. Even after conceding the goal, we managed to be better than them. After 15 minutes, we were able to impose our game really well. And I said, ‘Man, the game is all ours.’ We just had to be sharper and take our chances, and we’d have every possibility of winning. We had to be careful with the counterattacks, which I think are this Grêmio team’s strongest weapon. And we were very alert to that.

We managed to play a great match. I think even more so in the second half. And of course, the goal early in the second half gave us more calm so we could manage the game. We played a great match. Congratulations to the whole team. And now we head into this break to rest so we can come back even better.”

The number 1 shirt also spoke about André Ramalho, who scored twice in the match. Hugo praised the young striker’s personality and said the group has always had confidence in his potential.

“Man, everyone goes through it. I’m 27, Gustavo is 30, André is in his 30s, Carrillo is in his 30s. If you’ve been in football for a while, you go through good moments and bad ones, ups and downs.André is an 18, 19-year-old kid who can really play. And he has the full confidence of the group. Everyone really believes in him. We know how talented he is and what a rare gem he is. We know how much he’s helping us. And we know that maybe it won’t be for much longer, but he needed this goal, this game.

Congratulations to him on his performance. He’s a great player. He’s going to become even greater. He’s an amazing kid, calm, level-headed, focused. He deserves all the best in his life. So we’re very happy to be able to see him experience a night like this.”

Another topic addressed was his relationship with goalkeeping coaches Marcelo Carpes and Luizão. Hugo made a point of thanking both professionals and highlighted their importance in his journey.

“Man, I think I can give you one line: there would be no Hugo without Marcelo and Luizão. I don’t think I’d be able to achieve what I’ve achieved or live what I’ve lived if it weren’t for their work. So I’m very grateful for the day-to-day, very grateful to them. Mainly because they’re genuine people. And for me, that’s what matters most. When they need to tell me things that I need to hear, they tell me. When they’re there to support me, they support me. When they need to go into battle with me, they do. And for me, that’s what matters most.

I’m very grateful for their work. They’re guys who live in my heart. Marcelo and I have an incredible relationship. We’re true friends. So I’m very grateful to work with someone as capable as him, someone who does one of the best jobs in Brazil.When Diniz was with the national team, Marcelo was the one there with him. So looking at that, you can see the quality of his work. I’m very grateful for the work he does for me, professionally as well as in our day-to-day relationship.”

Finally, Hugo commented on a possible reunion with Ángel Di María in the Libertadores round of 16. The goalkeeper has already faced the Argentine in European football and sounded confident ahead of the continental showdown.

“Ah, man, I think it’s going to be a great matchup. A fantastic atmosphere on both sides. And we have every condition to do our best so we can go after qualification. We’re going to use this time to rest. And during that rest, we’ll also think ahead, take care of ourselves, and give our absolute best so we can achieve this dream of ours, which is, God willing, winning the Libertadores title. And well, I think it’s going to be nice. And if this reunion does happen, hopefully I come out on top again.”

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