Igor Gomes rues draw, eyes Sul-Americana, hails Sampaoli: “Brilliant job”

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·15 September 2025

Igor Gomes rues draw, eyes Sul-Americana, hails Sampaoli: “Brilliant job”

Atlético stumbled again in the Brazilian Championship. On the afternoon of last Sunday (14), at Arena MRV, the team ended in a 1-1 draw with Santos, in a match valid for the 23rd round of the competition.

The result kept the team close to the relegation zone. With 25 points, Galo has only 3 more than Vitória, the first team in the Z4.

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Scorer of the black-and-white goal, midfielder Igor Gomes was one of the few players to stop in the mixed zone after the match and commented on the game, the goal, and the team's moment:

We came back better (for the second half) and managed to find the best idea for the game. With one more player, when you concede the equalizer, it's really frustrating. I'm happy to have helped with the goal, but honestly, I would trade this goal for the victory. But these things happen.

Turning Point for the South American Cup

The draw at home increases the pressure on Atlético in the Brasileirão, but the squad already needs to shift focus. Next Wednesday (17), Galo will go to Bolivia to face Bolívar (BOL), for the quarterfinals of the Copa Sudamericana. For Igor Gomes, the competition is still a chance for the team to pursue another title in 2025:

We can't let this shake us. On Wednesday, we already have an extremely important game, in a competition that remains for us and in which we have the ambition to pursue the title.

Brasileirão Still on the Radar and Confidence in Sampaoli

Even with the uncomfortable proximity to the lower part of the table, the midfielder did not hide the ambition to pursue greater objectives in the national tournament: “My vision is to secure a spot in the Copa Libertadores. Even though it may seem a bit distant, our vision is always that, to be fighting for a spot in the G4, which is where Galo deserves to be. Our mentality needs to always be that, regardless of where we are today, our goal needs to be that”, he stated.

The player also spoke about the first training sessions with Sampaoli. Hired already in the final part of the season, the coach seeks his first victory in this return to Belo Horizonte and, above all, to consolidate his work at Atlético. For Igor Gomes, despite the difficulties, the path is promising:

“I can give my opinion. It's a beautiful job, a very good game idea. I think we are all on the same path, but when everyone understands his idea, his game principles, the ones who will win will be the fans and us, who will be able to enjoy all of this on the field. Let's hope this idea fits as quickly as possible so we can find the path to victories again”, he concluded.

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