Tite hails supremacy on pitch, talks returns and future plans

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·22 February 2026

Tite hails supremacy on pitch, talks returns and future plans

Cruzeiro took an important step towards the final of the Campeonato Mineiro by defeating Pouso Alegre 2-1 in the first leg of the semifinal. Despite the close score, the performance was one of the team's most consistent of the season, with game volume, control of actions, and several chances created throughout the 90 minutes.

After the match, coach Tite assessed that the result did not reflect the celestial superiority on the field and highlighted the collective evolution.

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“It was a great game, consistent, proper. The result does not reflect the supremacy, during almost the entire game. Coordinations, rhythm improving, first important step to reach the final title dispute.”

Even with territorial dominance and created chances, Cruzeiro again struggled with a lack of precision in finishing. For Tite, the maturation process also involves knowing how to deal with different scenarios within the same match.

“You have to know how to absorb, yes (the goal conceded), it's a maturity process. It will happen. Sometimes circumstantially you can concede a goal and absorb these different games that exist within a game. A mental game, that you seek, start playing closer, more with the ball. We have already improved our finishing power with precision, today we didn't have Arroyo and Kaio and produced a lot offensively.”

The team played with four players in midfield, alternating moments of verticality with more worked possession, a model the coach made clear is not circumstantial.

“Cruzeiro has to have the face of Cruzeiro and I never personalize. It wants to alternate moments of verticality with moments of possession. Four players in midfield to create and two players up front to finish, a line of four at the back.”

One of the highlights of the night was Bruno Rodrigues' re-debut with the celestial jersey. The forward returned to play for the club and received public praise from the coach.

“Bruno is a player very identified with Cruzeiro. A player who has a strong ability to finish and attack space. Some players have a nose for goal, they seek that last ball, he has this characteristic to help us as well.”

Another name mentioned was midfielder Walace, reintegrated after market speculations.

“The negotiation possibilities were not confirmed. He is a quality player. Hence his reintegration.”

With the semifinal open and an important midweek commitment against Corinthians, the coach justified the substitutions made in the final stage, already projecting the decisive sequence.

“It reflects a bit of the substitutions I made. We have Wednesday and Saturday. We took a first step to reach the Minas Gerais title dispute. But we also have an important game on Wednesday because we need to recover. We have this awareness. So the substitution had this awareness, so that on Wednesday and Saturday we have players who are ‘fresh’, a bit more relaxed, the mistakes are smaller, you produce more.”

Asked about the reunion with Corinthians, Tite was direct:

“I want to make history at Cruzeiro. That's my answer.”

The victory in the countryside also had an emotional component highlighted by the coach, who recalled his origins.

“You're talking about the emotional part. I was raised in the countryside and sought to have contact, to somehow be present. It's the idolatry of the big club. Cruzeiro draws crowds. Today there was a cook who said she wanted a photo. In this aspect, how much football attracts you, provides you with happiness with a contact, a photo, seeing your idols, it's very beautiful.”

Regarding the tears of young Neiser Villarreal on the bench after being substituted, the coach made a point of defending the forward.

“Imagine a boy who changes countries, young, who comes to a heavy jersey with extremely high expectations, who was playing a good game, who creates expectations, the opportunities arose, but it's life. He played a good game. It is up to the coach, who has more experience, to bring more calm and ask the fans to embrace him. He is not slacking off, he is a golden boy. He was moved by the moment.”

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