Vasco boss loses patience, rows with reporter and says he’s “outraged”

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Papo na Colina

·8 December 2025

Vasco boss loses patience, rows with reporter and says he’s “outraged”

The 5-0 thrashing suffered by Vasco against Atlético-MG at the Arena MRV left deep marks not only on the scoreboard but also in the post-game atmosphere. The press conference of coach Fernando Diniz was marked by moments of tension and a heated exchange with a member of the press, turning the tactical analysis into a fervent outburst about the team's attitude and journalistic coverage.

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“No one talked about giving up”

The peak of the tension occurred when journalist Linniker Biondi, from the channel A Hora do Vasco, questioned whether the club had “given up” the match by fielding reserves and suffering such a defeat. Diniz immediately interrupted the question, denying the premise.

“No, no, no. It wasn't giving up. No one talked about giving up. It's about prioritizing, just like Cruzeiro did”, the coach began, trying to justify the strategy aimed at the Copa do Brasil.

The journalist insisted, stating he believed the score would be lopsided (4-0) even without the expulsion of Hugo Moura. This was the trigger for Diniz to respond directly:

“I already know what your opinion is. Your opinion is always negative towards Vasco. If we lose, we already know.”

The coach argued that the game was balanced until the red card at 19 minutes, comparing the scenario to the match against Del Valle in the South American tournament, where an early expulsion also collapsed the strategy.

Indignation and a message to the fans

Besides the clash with the press, Diniz made a point of showing that the result affected him deeply, rejecting the idea that he was merely protecting his position.

“Everyone is sad, everyone is disappointed. We should have done a better job… It's a defeat we cannot accept,” he lamented.

The coach was emphatic in describing his personal feelings, trying to connect with the pain of Vasco fans and making it clear that the team's passivity on the field does not reflect his state of mind in command:

“I don't work thinking about the future, protecting myself. I dedicate myself a lot, I trust Vasco's fans a lot, I like Vasco's fans, I like Vasco. I'm outraged by 5-0, outraged. Completely outraged.”

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