Renato Gaúcho trials three holding midfielders as Vasco chase balance before Palmeiras | OneFootball

Renato Gaúcho has trialled three holding midfielders as he searches for greater balance at Vasco before facing Palmeiras. After an intense first week, his first full collective session took place on Saturday.

According to PaponaColina, the coaching staff want tighter defensive control and tested a reshaped midfield built around three specialists.

Hugo Moura and Tchê Tchê were moved into the starting group, Barros was taken out during one phase, and Thiago Mendes kept his place.

The base XI tested featured Léo Jardim, Paulo Henrique, Saldívia, Robert Renan, Lucas Piton, Hugo Moura, Thiago Mendes, Tchê Tchê, Nuno, David and Andrés Gomez.

It remains too early to confirm a definitive XI or scheme, which could switch between a 4-3-3 and a 4-4-2.

Vasco have four more training sessions before the 12 March fixture at São Januário in the Campeonato Brasileiro, and the early experiments indicate a more guarded stance with the trio shielding.

By day four, David was the player who most impressed the coach, thanks to his high intensity and clear commitment in training. The current internal view is that he deserves more opportunities, underlined by his place among the starters in this first draft.

Source: PaponaColina