Memphis admits Corinthians are patchy, urges simpler play after loss | OneFootball

Corinthians’ fourth straight defeat in the Brazilian Championship increased the pressure on the squad. After the 2-1 loss to Chapecoense this Sunday (6) at Neo Química Arena, Memphis Depay analyzed the team’s current situation, spoke about his individual performance, commented on Yuri Alberto’s absence, and argued for changes in the way Timão have been playing.

In the mixed zone, the forward also addressed the physical condition he is dealing with at the start of the season, defended Fernando Diniz’s work, and acknowledged Corinthians’ difficulties in maintaining consistency in the Brasileirão. For the No. 10, the squad needs to play in a simpler way and turn the instructions from training into performances on the pitch.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

Memphis has scored just one goal this season. Asked how much that number bothers him, the forward said he has had difficulty receiving the ball in positions to finish.

“A lot of the time, I can’t get into position with the ball to shoot at goal. If I don’t shoot, how can I score? So that’s something that bothers me, for sure.”

The Dutchman also spoke about his physical condition. During the week before the match against Chapecoense, Memphis felt discomfort and missed two training sessions. This Sunday, he did not stay on the pitch for the full 90 minutes.

The No. 10 explained that he felt pain in his knee against Santos in the previous round and stressed the need to manage his body after a period without completing a full preseason.

“Yes, that’s the idea. In the last match against Santos, I felt my knee. I played through pain, but I’m fine. But I have to respect my body’s process. I arrived here two weeks ago in decent shape, but I didn’t have a preseason. I didn’t train for two months like the team did. I played four matches in two weeks. I don’t think that’s normal. So I have to protect myself because of that, because I expect a lot from myself to play, to be important. But as an athlete, you also have to respect your body. When I arrived, unfortunately, I was in that condition, because I wanted to get here earlier to be in better shape to play.”

Forward acknowledges lack of consistency in the Brasileirão

The result against Chapecoense kept Corinthians on 32 points and extended the run to four straight defeats in the competition. Asked about the need to pay more attention to the lower end of the table, Memphis admitted that the club’s current situation is nothing new in recent seasons.

In the forward’s view, Timão have struggled to sustain a run that would allow them to target the top places in the Brazilian Championship.

“We know exactly what our situation is. Unfortunately, this is nothing new for this team over the last two years. Every time we try to look up, unfortunately we lose games and drop down. Then we go up again. That’s what we want and that will be our ambition. We want to try to compete in the league. But, as everyone can see in the Brasileirão, we don’t have a team to compete with the teams in the Brasileirão. We have to be honest about that. We want titles, but the Brasileirão is a long competition where you show consistency. And we haven’t shown that. But no matter what, we fight. We still have the Libertadores, we believe in it and we fight for it too. But of course we have to be very careful and try not to do the same as in recent years.”

Memphis admits Yuri Alberto is missed

Corinthians are also going through this stretch without Yuri Alberto. The striker is sidelined with a physical issue, and Memphis acknowledged that his teammate’s absence makes a difference in attack.

“Everybody knows his quality, everybody knows that he is important to the team. So we miss him, for sure.”

No. 10 backs Fernando Diniz’s work

Even after four consecutive negative results, Memphis showed confidence in Fernando Diniz. According to the forward, the coach gives the players information and freedom, but it is up to the squad to execute during matches what is worked on every day.

“I think the coach helps us a lot. He gives us a lot of confidence, a lot of information. But what I say, something I haven’t seen with so many coaches, is the confidence he gives to the players. So for us, as players, it is confidence and responsibility within the game. We have all the information we need, but we need to show what we train. We have to show it over the 90 minutes in the match. And if we don’t do that, the result speaks for itself.”

Memphis demands collective involvement to score again

Considered one of the squad’s main technical references, Memphis was also asked about the possibility of delivering more individually for Corinthians. The No. 10 admitted he can contribute more when he is fully recovered physically, but stressed that he depends on the team functioning collectively in order to appear in favorable attacking situations.

“For sure. I think, first of all, when I am physically 100%, I can help the team more. It is also very clear that I cannot decide games on my own. I need my teammates. I need players who put me one-on-one. I need players who give me the ball in a situation where I can shoot at goal. I can’t do those things alone. So we work a lot as a team and train to do that, because otherwise I can’t get the goals. As a forward, I need players who give me the balls in the areas where I need them, and then I will get the goals.”

Transfer ban also part of the analysis

The difficulty in strengthening the squad was another topic addressed in the mixed zone. Corinthians are going through the transfer window unable to register new players because of transfer bans.

Asked whether the situation harms the club against opponents who were able to strengthen their squads, Memphis mentioned Rodrigo Garro and Breno Bidon as players with the quality to supply him in attack, but admitted that the inability to sign players affects planning.

“We have players who can do that. We have players like Garro, Bidon and others who can look for me. They have the quality. Of course the transfer ban hurts the club and the team, because we would like to bring in reinforcements, bring in more players who can help the team so that we can play better and also be ambitious in the league. But that is something we all know, that for now we have this. Unfortunately, we have a team that can compete, but what we showed today is not enough.”

‘We need to play together and more simply,’ says Memphis

Finally, the No. 10 was asked what can be changed on the pitch to stop the losing streak. Memphis mentioned the information provided by Fernando Diniz, but pointed to mistakes in execution and turnovers during matches.

For the forward, simplifying decisions and moving the ball faster when a teammate is open are some of the ways for Corinthians to react.

“A simpler game. For me, that’s it. I think all the players in the team have ambition. But I also have information, because Fernando Diniz shows everything. Videos, lots of meetings. That helps us a lot. But on the pitch, there are moments when we exchange ideas and it is not an easy game. We lose balls, we lose a lot of balls. We need to change that, we need to play together. Play more simply. If I’m open, if other players are open, play quick football. Those are great teams. That is something we can change, but it’s not easy.”

Corinthians turn attention to decisive Libertadores clash

After the defeat to Chapecoense, Corinthians will have little time to work before shifting their focus to the Conmebol Libertadores. Timão visit Estudiantes this Wednesday (9) at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) at Jorge Luis Hirschi Stadium, UNO, in La Plata, for the first leg of the quarterfinals.

Before the second leg, Corinthians will also face Flamengo next Sunday (13) at the Maracanã in the Brazilian Championship.

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