Sampaoli praises Dudu and highlights Bernard’s comeback after derby draw | OneFootball

Coach Jorge Sampaoli analyzed Atlético’s draw against Cruzeiro, 1-1, on Wednesday night (15th), at Arena MRV, in the 28th round of the Brazilian Championship. The match was marked by goals from Matheus Pereira, for the celeste team, and Ruan Tressoldi, who scored the equalizer for the alvinegro side also in the second half.

With the result, Galo reached 33 points and remained in 14th place, opening up an eight-point gap from the relegation zone.

After the match, the Argentine coach commented on the good performance of Dudu, one of Atlético’s standouts in the derby, and explained the reason for his substitution during the second half.

“We are taking it one step at a time, starting from a very progressive preparation. I think he’s been quite decisive in the games. For the substitution, I thought Biel, being fresher, would give us a bit more quality on the flanks. I think as time goes by, with more work, Dudu will have more consistency and more minutes. He’s a player we need, for his finesse and clarity in the final third of the field,” evaluated Sampaoli.

The coach also praised the evolution of Bernard, who has been one of the team’s most consistent players in recent rounds. According to Sampaoli, the number 11 is experiencing a career resurgence and has become a key piece in the team’s offensive organization.

Atlético returns to the field next Saturday (18th), when they face Corinthians in São Paulo. Afterwards, Galo travels to Ecuador, where they face Independiente del Valle (EQU) in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana semifinal.

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