Zubeldía hails Soteldo and celebrates long-awaited away win | OneFootball

Fluminense won yet another match in the Brasileirão and continues on a streak of six consecutive victories under the command of Luis Zubeldía. The tricolor overcame Grêmio 2-1 last Tuesday (02) in the 37th round of the Brazilian Championship. After the match, the Argentine coach celebrated the three points earned away from home, the first since his arrival.

One of the standout names on the field in the victory was Yefferson Soteldo. The Venezuelan took advantage of his starting spot after Canobbio served a suspension and had his best performance in a Fluminense shirt since joining the club in June, scoring both goals. Zubeldía took the opportunity to praise the striker’s performance.

Check out other answers from Luis Zubeldía’s press conference

Did you make the right choice by going to Fluminense and not Internacional?

– These are things in life. The truth is I don’t think much about what could have been. When Fluminense called me, in two minutes we reached an agreement with Mário (Bittencourt, president). Very little was said about the financial side. In two minutes, everything was settled. That means the opportunity was there and I liked it. The most important thing is that the team is working, we’re getting results, which is what everyone wanted. And we’re up there, seeing if we can get into the Libertadores directly, as well as the Copa do Brasil.

What was the Fluminense you found when you arrived after Renato?

– The season started with Mano, and I believe he played one round of the Brasileirão after a tough 2024. He managed to keep Fluminense in the top flight. Then came Renato’s work, which was also very good. Why do I say this? In the Brasileirão, they were among the top ten. In the Club World Cup, (Fluminense) finished fourth, competing very well, landing some blows on important teams. In the Copa do Brasil, they reached the semifinals. I believe what was being done, in terms of results, was good. In terms of play as well, because the team was a protagonist. He left for his own reasons, I inherited the team and I’ve always said the group was very good. There was variety among the players, different profiles, and that’s very important to me. From my experience, it’s important to have good players and variety in case of injuries, so you have alternatives.

What’s the difference between foreign and Brazilian coaches?

– Grêmio touched the sky with their hands with Renato (Gaúcho), and he’s a Brazilian coach. Mano is doing a good job, competing among the top ten. I wouldn’t put flags on coaches. For me, the club’s culture and the coach’s profile are very important. The flag doesn’t matter, but the coach’s profile does. I believe Mano has the profile to be at Grêmio, and so does Renato.

How do you work on the desire for a Libertadores spot in the squad without losing focus on the Copa do Brasil?

– It’s something we learn in football, especially lately. The most important thing is not what has passed or what’s coming in the future, but the immediate match. The next training. The next rest. The now. It sounds like a self-help book phrase. Here it’s like this: no one has a memory. What we want to know is how Fluminense did in the last match, how Fluminense did against Grêmio. That’s our mentality. What’s the next game? Grêmio? Let’s go. That’s where having good players and good alternatives comes in, which I didn’t choose. Mário and his board, together with Mano Menezes, when they built the squad, and with Renato, in the middle of the year, said “I’ll bring this player, this one, this one.” So, together, they built a good squad. My job is to put players in and take them out, and compete well. It’s not an extraordinary job, it’s the reality to think about the next game. Now comes Bahia. Then, we have the semifinal (of the Copa do Brasil). I have to focus on that immediate match. The fans, the president, me. Everyone wants the immediate match. So, let’s think about Bahia.

Did Renato’s rotation throughout the year help keep the starting team more consistent?

— That’s a good question for deeper reflection. Clearly, the fatigue that some teams have, we’re not seeing in our players. I think there are things that help that happen. First, we’re winning. That gives you more energy mentally. Second, we’re running well on the field. That creates an ability to manage energy. Recovery has been good, I have options when I need to make changes due to injuries, suspensions, or whatever. I don’t rotate much, because my idea is that to consolidate a team, the ideal is not to change too much. But I understand that in Renato’s process, when you have a lot of new players, you need everyone to be in good shape until you define the starting eleven. I, with a clearer picture, having gone through more than 70% of the season, already knew who could play, who couldn’t, I could make decisions based on what happened. Because I have a sample of matches. That process for Renato is unfair. Because he receives players, has to incorporate and evaluate them. Putting one in, another, and another. I already have a picture, who adapted, who didn’t. Who Serna was, if Canobbio is adapted, Everaldo going through a goalless spell, criticism, I protected him, then I put him in. And all this thanks to the season progressing. To Mano’s process and Renato’s. So, what they did was good. The players were in a different process where I can decide on an eleven while things are going well. As they worked, I kept a structure. If things work, I keep a structure. I don’t like to change much. But I understand that at the start of the season this can happen a lot, especially when you have many new arrivals.

Expectations for home games in the final stretch of the season

– We certainly expect a Maracanã, if not packed, at least full. The team has been doing very well in these last Brasileirão matches. It would be very beautiful to have the best scenario with our fans at Maracanã. And for sure, then go all out for the matches against Vasco, which will also be at Maracanã, also with our fans always pushing us. Today, even though there were few tickets, you could hear them a lot. It’s always very beautiful to hear the fans’ roar.

What was the turning point for Fluminense?

– If you carefully analyze the schedule after the Club World Cup, what happened is that Fluminense had a very tough run. They faced four or five very strong teams. Coming back from the Club World Cup, immediately facing those four teams, that’s what I experienced now in this last stretch. But, of course, having the Club World Cup behind you, it was very hard to “switch the chip” and come out well in that situation. And even so, taking out that block of four negative matches, I believe the team regained confidence and was able to climb back up in the Brasileirão, qualify for the semifinals of the Copa do Brasil, and only missed out on the Sudamericana by one goal. And they were knocked out by the champions, not just anyone.

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