Marcelo Paz: focus on Corinthians, Yuri Alberto stays | OneFootball

Corinthians football executive Marcelo Paz attended the premiere of the play about the club’s foundation, held at the Parque São Jorge theater on the night of last Friday (9). In an interview with the press, the executive spoke about his first months at the club, the early qualification for the Libertadores quarterfinals, the team’s current moment in the Brazilian Championship, Timão’s financial situation, and the future of forward Yuri Alberto.

Marcelo Paz said he has been trying to closely experience different sports and environments at Corinthians to better understand the dimension of the institution and, in turn, improve the work developed in the football department.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Ag.Corinthians

“For me, it’s truly a joy, because it is intentional to live, get to know, internalize, and increasingly understand what this overwhelming greatness that Corinthians is means. Today I had the pleasure of bringing my son, he is here with me, just as he was yesterday at the basketball game as well. The play was very moving, the origin was very moving, the history, the inclusion, the courage, the grit, the defiance, the origin of the term champions of champions. I learned a lot here today, so I’m very happy and I intend to do more. I want to go to the futsal matches, the youth matches, with the women’s team we are already closer to women’s football, and get to know more and more, because it is charming, it is engaging, and I also think it is important so that I can better develop my work.”

The executive also spoke about the emotion of coming into contact with the jersey worn by Oscar Schmidt, an icon of Brazilian basketball and a former Corinthians player.

“Oscar is a national idol, an extraordinary idol, and he has a very beautiful history with Corinthians. He was a champion with Corinthians, he honored our jersey. Corinthians paid tribute to Oscar one day after his passing, in the match in Salvador, and then again in the home match. Touching that uniform that belonged to the giant Oscar is emotional, it creates an even greater bond. It is a name that is eternalized in the history of Brazilian sport, Brazilian basketball, and also Corinthians.”

Marcelo Paz stressed that the early qualification in the Libertadores does not change the club’s planning, but it does provide peace of mind to pursue the overall top spot and secure the advantage of deciding at home in the knockout rounds.

“I don’t think it changes anything, it only gives us peace of mind that we have done our job very well so far. We were the first Brazilian club to secure qualification, we still have two matches left, and now it is about confirming first place and seeking the highest possible points total, because we know that makes all the difference in the next stage of the competition. Anyone who wants to be champion has to take care of that in every match.”

When addressing the team’s performance in the Brazilian Championship, the executive acknowledged that Corinthians’ current position in the table is below expectations and reinforced the need for an immediate response.

“At Corinthians, responsibility and expectations are always high. In the Brazilian Championship, we know that today we are in a bad position, in a place where Corinthians cannot be. Corinthians has to be in the top part of the table, fighting near the top. We need to start winning again, we need to get points and put together two or three wins in a row. That is what will get us out of this situation.”

Marcelo Paz also commented on the club’s concern with balancing the books and avoiding new debts, highlighting that the seven signings made for the season were completed with no transfer fees.

“This financial issue does not pass directly through me, but I can say that I have a president who cares a lot about the club’s finances. President Osmar has already paid off a series of important debts. My role within the football department was precisely not to generate new debts. The seven signings we made were at zero cost, so as not to burden the club and, at the same time, maintain a competitive team.”

Regarding Yuri Alberto’s future, the executive was direct and said that the forward remains in Corinthians’ plans.

“He has a contract with the club, he is a very important player, we are counting on him, and there is no offer at the moment. So there is no reason to consider anything other than his staying.”

Finally, Marcelo Paz downplayed the delay in the payment of the squad’s salaries and said the situation should be regularized at the beginning of next week, with no impact on the derby against São Paulo.

“The information I have, given by the president, is that by Monday this should already be resolved. I don’t even know if it can be called a delay, it is a punctual situation, a financial mismatch. The players are fully aware that it can happen, but it is not something that will drag on for very long. I do not see this having any interference in the derby whatsoever. It is a squad very committed to the club’s goals and with an ever-stronger desire to win,” he concluded.

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