Matheuzinho hails Corinthians draw at altitude, cites Diniz impact | OneFootball

By Mirella Ramos / Central do Timão Editorial Staff

On the night of this Wednesday (6), Corinthians traveled to El Campín Stadium to face Santa Fe of Colombia in a match valid for the fourth round of the 2026 Conmebol Libertadores group stage, and drew 1-1. The result kept the Alvinegro at the top of Group E with ten points earned, totaling three wins and one draw, along with seven goals scored and only one conceded.

After the match, right-back Matheuzinho spoke in the mixed zone and commented on the difficulties of playing at altitude, the team’s performance, and Corinthians’ current moment under Fernando Diniz.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

Adjusting to the altitude

Asked about the impact of the altitude during the match, Matheuzinho highlighted the need to adapt quickly to the style of play in Bogotá.

“I don’t think it weighed on us. We had to adapt, like I said. Every Libertadores match, whether at home or away, is always very difficult, whether it’s against the team at the top or the bottom of the table. It’s a game where everyone is on the same footballing level,” he began.

“But of course, with the altitude everything changes: breathing, the ball moving faster. So we needed to adapt as quickly as possible during the match. Some plays end up being different for us; sometimes a pass we think will work comes off a little stronger. But I believe the altitude also helped me today on the cross for the assist, because the ball came off faster and reached him well for the finish,” he added.

Libertadores atmosphere

The No. 2 also commented on the atmosphere of the match, marked by pressure from the home fans and scuffles at the end of the game.

“For sure. I think every player who plays a Libertadores away from home, especially Brazilians, goes through a situation like that. But I enjoy it, I think it’s nice to play,” he said.

“I think the opposing fans here are very beautiful, because they sing the whole game. It’s almost like ours at Corinthians, supporting the team all the time, whether we’re winning or losing. So it’s really good to play a match like this. And the fight is part of it. Fortunately, they ended up with the draw, which was very good for us,” he added.

New role under Fernando Diniz

Matheuzinho also spoke about the tactical change implemented by Fernando Diniz and revealed that the coach has given him more freedom on the pitch.

“Man, it’s been really good. He’s helping the whole team and, speaking personally, he’s helping me a lot. He gives me a lot of confidence to keep working and to do what I’ve been doing,” he said.

“I’m going through a really good moment, pushing myself more and more. I was getting into the box a lot, but I wasn’t managing to get assists. This was only my second assist of the season,” he continued.

The full-back also explained that Diniz reminded him of a role he used to play during his Flamengo days.

“When he arrived, he remembered a time when I played for Flamengo, because there I had this role of alternating between out wide and inside. So he gave me a lot of freedom. When I have a winger like Diego or Caio, I need to leave the flank to them, because they’re better one-on-one. I feel really good because I’m closer to goal,” he explained.

Preparation for the Majestoso

Thinking ahead to the derby against São Paulo, valid for the Brazilian Championship, the player said the squad will have enough time to recover physically after the strain of playing at altitude.

“It’s still hard to say today because it was a tough trip. Tomorrow we’ll arrive and have the whole day to rest. But I’m sure that by Sunday, our preparation will be the best possible,” he said.

“We’re used to this routine of playing every three days. Of course it’s a little different when you play at altitude, but I’m sure the staff and the club will give us all the support possible so we can recover quickly and be fully ready against São Paulo,” he added.

Fernando Diniz’s influence on the squad

Asked about the team’s change in attitude since the new coach arrived, Matheuzinho highlighted the energy Diniz transmits to the group.

“I think the way each coach works reflects on the team. The coach is a very energetic guy, he lifts everyone up, even those who aren’t playing,” he commented.

“It’s impossible for someone in the squad not to get on his wavelength on the touchline. I think that has made our team more alert. I’m sure that if we maintain this level of concentration and energy on the pitch, we’re going to achieve great things this year,” he added.

Pursuit of defensive solidity

Even after conceding goals in the last two matches, Matheuzinho stressed that the squad’s focus remains on maintaining defensive consistency.

“We go into every game thinking about not conceding, because that’s our goal: not to put Hugo under pressure back there,” he said.

“But it happens. On the other side there are also professional players with a lot of quality. Our goal is to concede as few goals as possible, because that’s good for Hugo, for the defense, for the attack, and for the whole team,” he said.

Valuing the draw

Finally, the full-back valued the point earned away from home and said the result shows the team’s competitive spirit.

“I think this shows who we are. The club’s motto already says it: fight until the end. Of course we didn’t want to concede the goal, but that’s part of the match. We went after the equalizer until the end. Like I said, if we don’t win, we don’t lose. This draw is very valuable and shows that if we fight until the final whistle, we’ll be able to achieve our goals,” he concluded.

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