Zubeldía hails Bernal in Fluminense win, praises squad depth | OneFootball

The 1-0 victory over Internacional this Saturday at Maracanã was a test of patience and strength for the Fluminense squad. According to coach Luis Zubeldía, the positive result was directly influenced by the outstanding performance of an unexpected player: the Uruguayan midfielder Facundo Bernal.

In his press conference, the tricolor coach did not hold back praise for the player, who had the task of replacing the regular starter Martinelli, rested for the match. Zubeldía used a strong word to describe his player's performance.

“Today Facundo Bernal played, and he was superb. Superb. I was very pleased with him,” stated the Argentine coach, who extended his compliments to other players who also contributed. “Otávio came in and brought balance to the team, Hércules as well. I try to pay attention to everyone and then make decisions.”

The choice of Bernal, according to the coach, stems from his philosophy of closely observing all athletes in the squad, especially those who haven't been playing frequently. He emphasized that in a group full of options, opportunities arise for those who show progress in training.

“I am a coach who is constantly observing those who don't play. I might be unfair to some, the coach always has to make decisions. It's not easy,” explained Zubeldía. “Some are in the process of growing, due to youth, being foreigners, for different reasons.”

Bernal's secure and combative performance in midfield was crucial for Fluminense to control the match and secure the victory, even against an inspired opposing goalkeeper. The Uruguayan's performance proves the strength of the group and gives Zubeldía another quality option for the remainder of the season.

With the victory, Fluminense reached 44 points, remaining in the seventh position of the Brazilian Championship.

Next match

The Tricolor das Laranjeiras returns to the field next Sunday, facing Ceará for the 31st round of the Brazilian Championship. The match is scheduled for 7 PM (Brasília time) at Maracanã, in Rio de Janeiro.

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