Brasileirão or cups? Admar Lopes names Vasco’s main priority | OneFootball

The demanding marathon of competitions approaching on the national calendar will require a lot of strategic planning and tough choices behind the scenes at São Januário. The football director of Vasco, executive Admar Lopes, opened up about the club's goals right after the group stage draw of the Copa Sudamericana.

The Vasco squad landed in the challenging Group G, where they will have to face Olimpia, Audax Italiano, and Barracas Central. The Vasco official gave an exclusive interview to reporter André Hernan from ESPN Brasil, warning about the enormous physical strain the team will endure in April and May.

During this short period, the Rio-based club will need to divide its attention and energy by simultaneously competing in the rounds of the Campeonato Brasileiro and the critical stages of the Copa do Brasil and the continental tournament.

+ Path outlined: Vasco learns opponents and dates in Copa Sudamericana 2026

Vasco's Strategic Planning

The strongman of the football department detailed that the way the club will approach the international competition will depend directly on the performance and points achieved in Série A. The daunting forecast points to 17 games in just two months, forcing the technical staff to establish very clear priorities to avoid exhausting the athletes.

The executive spoke with ESPN Brasil and highlighted the financial weight of the tournament, but did not hide the true focus of the year:

Despite the declared priority, the director emphasized that Vasco's jersey has enormous tradition and that the institution has the duty to always seek the best possible results on the field, trying to compete at a high level.

Management has outlined priorities – Photo: Reproduction Vasco TV

Praise for the Coach and Winning Mentality

To withstand this intense series of confrontations, the management fully trusts the management capacity of their new coach. The behavioral change of the team since the hiring of Renato Gaúcho is viewed with extreme satisfaction within the club's corridors.

With seven points quickly earned in three matches played, the coach has gained full support from the board. Admar Lopes heaped praise on the profile of the national idol:

With feet on the ground, Vasco now focuses on maintaining stability in the league while preparing their travel logistics for the much-anticipated debut in the Copa Sudamericana, which will take place in Buenos Aires against Barracas Central, between April 7 and 9.

Admar Lopes says he is satisfied with Renato Gaúcho's start at the helm of Vasco – Photo: Guilherme Abrahão/Jogada 10

+ Follow Papo na Colina's social media: Thread, Bluesky, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok, and Google News.

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