Maycon, Hugo Souza: Corinthians more mature for Copa do Brasil semi-final

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Central do Timão

·8 December 2025

Maycon, Hugo Souza: Corinthians more mature for Copa do Brasil semi-final

By Henrique Pereira / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Early Monday afternoon (8), Corinthians organized a press conference at CT Joaquim Grava with goalkeeper Hugo Souza and midfielder Maycon. One of the most discussed topics was the Copa do Brasil semifinal, and the number 7 recalled painful defeats he experienced in the final stages of the tournament.

“Man, what I try to convey daily to these players, especially in these last few weeks, is that the greatest pain I have here at Corinthians was losing that Copa do Brasil final to Flamengo. It’s a feeling that took me several months to overcome.”, Maycon began.

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Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Ag. Corinthians

“Because of everything that happened in that game, everything that match was, I think I even mentioned to the coaching staff that it was a game where, interestingly, Dorival was on the other side and, at some point in the second half especially, our team was dominant, we were very close to being champions. I think we even started the penalties that way: Cássio saved the first penalty, we practically had one hand on the trophy and ended up losing that final.”, he continued.

“Consequently, in 2023, we started the knockout stage by beating São Paulo and then lost at Morumbi. And in 2024, we lost qualification at the Arena with one more player. I think it’s all about learning. We’ve been through various moments and scenarios, and I think it’s my duty to share with the players everything I’ve experienced in this competition.”, the midfielder went on.

“The Copa do Brasil rewards the club and the team that is most clinical. The games are very mental, and the mental side needs to be very strong. That’s what I try to pass on, because not only the Brasileirão has games like that, but especially the knockout matches. The team is very ready to play a great Copa do Brasil match, a great semifinal, a great knockout tie and, God willing, we’re ready to win this title.”, he concluded.

Next, Hugo Souza also recalled the 2024 semifinal against Flamengo and lamented the missed opportunity. However, the goalkeeper pointed out that the team comes into the clash against Cruzeiro more experienced, especially after winning the Paulistão.

“I think last year, given everything that happened, the semifinal against Flamengo, the second match… as Maycon said, a game with one more player. We had every chance to reach the final and fight for the title, and it left a really bad feeling, a sense that it was in our hands and we let it slip away. The same thing happened in the Sudamericana, and we really felt the blow, because it was a chance to enjoy a moment the club hadn’t experienced in a while.”, he said.

“We have this desire to always go after something big. The Paulista helped us with that, but we really want a title that will put us in the club’s history once and for all. We believe that everything we’ve been through so far, even though I wasn’t here in previous years, but was here last year, has built a lot of resilience. Our best games have been precisely in the Cups. And we’re going to value that, because this resilience has brought us this: going onto the field very sure of what we want — and now it won’t be any different.”, he continued.

As the interview continued, Maycon was also asked about the difference in Corinthians’ performance in the Brasileirão and the Copa do Brasil. The midfielder admitted the discrepancy between the competitions and pointed out the need to show that the team is capable of succeeding in the knockout tournament.

“Well, I think the Brasileirão is a competition that ended and in which we performed way below expectations, and we’re aware of that. The Corinthians team deserves to be in better positions. That was our speech, but it wasn’t our practice.”, the midfielder began.

“In the Cup it’s been different. We were Paulista champions, but that’s a title that’s in the past; we’re not considering it now. We want the Copa do Brasil. That has to be our mentality. We know our fans believe in us. It’s six Cup games without conceding a goal, we won all the matches — that gives us confidence, strengthens us, and shows what Corinthians is about.”, Maycon continued.

“It’s no use for me to come here and talk about what we’re going to show; we have to demonstrate it. We spent a long time just talking, and we didn’t always deliver. Now is the time to focus on what we can control, work hard, and go in with the spirit that Corinthians fans demand, the same spirit we’ve shown in Cup games. That’s the mentality we’re going to take with us.”, Maycon added.

Hugo Souza agreed with his teammate. The goalkeeper stressed that the context is very different compared to the last clash against the Minas Gerais team in the Brasileirão, when Corinthians lost 3-0.

“That’s right. It’s a totally different context. In the Brasileirão match against Cruzeiro, we had a lot of absences. Now it’s a completely different situation: everyone is ready to play, fit, physically well. That’s going to help us a lot. I was also out in that game, and now the context is totally different.”, he commented.

“In the Cup we’ve managed to carry ourselves in a way that we can play, impose our rhythm, put into practice what we train every day. And we’ve shown that. We’re going to work in the best way possible to play two great games and go after qualification.”, he concluded.

The first leg of the Copa do Brasil semifinal against Cruzeiro takes place this Wednesday (10), at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time), at Mineirão, while the second leg will be played on Sunday (14), at 6:00 p.m. (Brasília time), at Neo Química Arena.

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