Ramalho says Fifa break comes at right time, plans Corinthians rotation | OneFootball

Center-back André Ramalho believes the FIFA international break came at a good time for Corinthians. Timão is going through a seven-game winless streak and will have time to identify its difficulties and make the necessary adjustments, already with an eye on its next commitment of the season.

In addition, the FIFA international break gives Corinthians a period without matches, as the club will have a packed April schedule. In the defender’s view, the free week will be essential for the squad to recover its energy.

“The FIFA international break came at a good time. We know that, after this pause, there won’t be any real moment to rest. It comes at a good time so we can adjust and improve things that need to be improved for the rest of the season. Besides the Copa do Brasil and Libertadores matches, there’s the Brazilian Championship, which is always difficult,” Ramalho told Corinthians TV.

“We’re going to prepare in the best possible way to play these next matches with both the physical and mental sides more rested so we can get good results,” the defender added.

Room for everyone

Corinthians will have an extremely packed schedule in April, right after the end of the FIFA international break. In addition to its Brazilian Championship commitments, Timão will also make its Libertadores debut and begin the defense of its Copa do Brasil title.

Initially, the black-and-white club has nine matches scheduled for April. The first clash comes on the very first day of the month, against Fluminense, in Série A. Four days later, it hosts Internacional, also in Série A. Then, on the 9th, it makes its Libertadores debut against Platense, in Argentina.

Also in April, Timão will still have the derby against Palmeiras, with the date yet to be confirmed by the CBF, as well as matches against Vitória and Vasco, all in the Brasileirão; the second and third rounds of the Libertadores, against Santa Fé and Peñarol, respectively; and its debut in the fifth round of the Copa do Brasil, against Barra (SC).

With the lengthy schedule and the marathon of matches in a short span of time, André Ramalho believes everyone in the squad will get playing time. Head coach Dorival Júnior has been rotating the team since the start of the season, and the defender projected that the same scenario will continue.

“Everyone wants to play, everyone works for that. In moments like this, coach Dorival will need everyone. We’re happy. We’ll prepare ourselves to deliver when we get opportunities. There will be nine matches in April, ten in May, according to what the coaching staff told us,” he said.

“There are so many matches that our focus will be on recovering and playing. Everyone will need to be in good shape so we can deliver in all competitions,” concluded Corinthians’ number 5.

Corinthians’ next matches

Fluminense vs Corinthians (ninth round of the Brazilian Championship) Date and time: 04/01 (Wednesday), at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) Venue: Maracanã, in Rio de Janeiro (RJ)

Corinthians vs Internacional (tenth round of the Brazilian Championship) Date and time: 04/05 (Sunday), at 7:30 p.m. (Brasília time) Venue: Neo Química Arena, in São Paulo (SP)

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