Raniele, inspired by Memphis, fights to play Copa do Brasil final | OneFootball

Raniele said this Tuesday, in a press conference at the Corinthians training center, that he is making a huge effort to play in the final of the Copa do Brasil against Vasco. The midfielder has just recovered from swelling in his left ankle and was a substitute in the semifinal against Cruzeiro, but he wants to be on the field for the final.

The number 14 revealed his sadness at missing the first leg of the semifinal in Belo Horizonte. He said the pain was “unbearable.” When asked if he could handle the full 90 minutes, the player dodged the question.

“We’ll only find out [if I can start] by trying. I’ve been making a huge effort. In the first leg of the semifinal, the pain was unbearable, I was upset that I couldn’t be on the field. I’ve been undergoing intensive treatment to help the team. We’ll only find out when I step onto the pitch,” said Raniele.

Recovered, the midfielder came on in the second half of the second leg of the semifinal and helped Corinthians secure a spot in the final. He believes Dorival’s decision to save him for the second half was the right one.

“The pain of missing the first match was much greater than the pain in my ankle. On the same night as the win at Mineirão, I was already doing physiotherapy because I wanted to play the second game. I wouldn’t have missed it even with a broken foot. I wanted to be on the field, but I had to respect my teammates,” he commented.

“It was the right choice by the coach. It worked out and I’m happy to have helped. Whether I play tomorrow or not, I’m always ready to serve Corinthians,” he added.

(Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians)

Inspired by Memphis

The effort to be on the field is also the result of inspiration from Memphis Depay. Raniele said that the Corinthians striker, considered one of the group’s leaders, inspires the other players by “giving his all” for the team.

“Memphis is a guy who has been working really hard. When he arrived, I told some friends: ‘It’s either going to work out really well or really badly’. And thank God it’s worked out really well. He’s been trying to improve his Portuguese, to communicate with us. When he has a question about something, how to say something, he asks. He’s been working on that,” he said.

“Leadership on the field comes from the references we have. He’s a technical reference. When he steps onto the pitch and shows that he runs, gives his all, that motivates us. He’s already won everything, he’s the top scorer in the history of the Dutch national team, he doesn’t need to prove anything else and he’s still giving everything for us. We get inspired by that,” he concluded.

A Good Headache

Corinthians go into the Copa do Brasil final with no injured players. Therefore, the entire squad is available to Dorival Júnior. Raniele sees this as a “good problem” for the coach.

“It’s great for us. We have a competent squad, it’s a good headache for Dorival. It’s something he should be thankful for. Earning a starting spot in a final is something you build throughout the year. The squad has proven its quality, we have great options. For us it’s important, in these last matches everyone traveled, everyone was focused. I think it’s great for the team. Dorival will make the best decisions,” he concluded.

Final in Sight

The first leg of the Copa do Brasil final between Corinthians and Vasco will take place this Wednesday. The match kicks off at 9:30 PM (Brasília time) at the Neo Química Arena.

The return leg is scheduled for Sunday, December 21. The decisive match is set for 6:30 PM at the Maracanã.

Next Corinthians Match

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