Corinthians boss hails players, slams schedule, eyes Paulista final

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Central do Timão

·5 de diciembre de 2025

Corinthians boss hails players, slams schedule, eyes Paulista final

By Henrique Pereira / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Corinthians defeated São Paulo 2-1 at Neo Química Arena and secured a spot in the final of the Women's Paulista Championship. After the match, coach Lucas Piccinato extensively discussed the team's performance, praised the players, analyzed the refereeing, and looked ahead to the final against Palmeiras. The coach particularly highlighted Duda's performance, who returned from the National Team with physical fatigue but still came in and changed the game, reaffirming her importance in the squad.

“About Duda, I think it's stating the obvious. A player who is now a starter for the Brazilian National Team, on merit, due to the hard work and dedication she puts in. Today she came in and played a masterclass level game, showing what a different player she is. Very happy that she, even with great fatigue, took a hit in the National Team, spent some time without training there. And even with all this context, she managed to come in and help us, as she always does. So, very happy with her performance.”, he said.

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Photo: ©Rodrigo Gazzanel / Ag. Corinthians

Piccinato also evaluated the refereeing and stated that he did not see direct interference in the result, praising the referee's stance on the penalty awarded to São Paulo. According to him, Isa's speed resulted in several fouls that, in the referee's view, really occurred.

“Regarding the refereeing, I didn't think it was so bad today, honestly. I think Isa drew a lot of fouls, she's a very fast athlete, every contact they gave, I think that bothered. But I think like all refereeing, it didn't interfere, the penalty, I think I would have awarded the penalty too. I think it was a contact, Isa got ahead. I think in other games the refereeing bothered more than this one.”, commented the coach.

The absence of some players in full physical condition after the FIFA Date and the cards received early in the match influenced the coach's tactical choices. He highlighted that he trusts the squad and that situations like these serve to strengthen the group, but admitted that he had to adjust roles due to the risk of expulsions.

“Today the context of the game brought, as I said, the issue of the girls from the national team arriving very last minute. The decision, we could have forced it and put them in, but I preferred to trust the group. And we have already played games without having any of the players who perform as a midfielder in the team, which today is Day and Duda. And we have already managed to sustain, even against São Paulo at Fazendinha, we didn't have either of them and played a great game.”, pointed out Piccinato.

“I think today what conditioned us a bit not to have a better game in the midfielder position was that we got a card very quickly, Andressa got a quick card, so I had to take her out of the midfield, because if there was a counterattack she would need to stop it and wouldn't have the possibility. Then Vic got a card, so that disturbed a bit. Regarding next year, we have obviously been looking carefully at the position. And surely we will try to reinforce in the best possible way and bring a piece that can add and have another possibility within the squad.”, he continued.

Another highlight from the coach was the return of Jaqueline, who scored one of the goals in the match. He recalled the player's importance in the Brasileirão knockout stages and explained that the club was cautious in her return to avoid a new injury, as the forward was out after breaking her finger by kicking the corner of a bed.

“Jaqueline, in my opinion, was one of our two or three, maybe the best player in the Brasileirão knockouts. I think she was very important against São Paulo, with a goal, with an assist. I think she was very important against Cruzeiro, with an assist. I think she played great games in the Brasileirão knockout and unfortunately, by a mishap, she kicked a corner of the bed and broke her finger and had to stay out.”, said Piccinato.

“But she is a great team player, an athlete who works hard, an athlete who is high-spirited and on the field is a player with technical quality for dribbling, dragging, finishing with both feet, a good header, a player who adds a lot to us and very happy with her return. I think she played a game like she likes to play against São Paulo, indeed.”, continued the coach.

Piccinato also evaluated the changes in São Paulo under different coaches and mentioned the balanced game in the semifinal. However, he highlighted that the team that bothered him the most was the match at Carindé for the Brasileirão, when Nicole shone and avoided a negative result. For him, facing the rival is always a physically, technically, and emotionally intense duel.

“I think the perspective of Thiago starting the game with another formation brings a difference for us to adapt, but I think in the overall context of the game, even in the first half where we weren't well, I think it was a game where we hit the post, São Paulo had a header inside the area, it was a very balanced game. (…) We thank God that the confrontations are over.”, he commented.

The final against Palmeiras, however, gained special attention. The coach stated that Rosana's team is aggressive, intense in post-loss situations, and comes in lighter after the change of command. He believes the decision will be marked by direct duels and meter-by-meter disputes, requiring two great performances from Corinthians to seek the title.

“The command, the fact of changing the coach changes a lot. Camila's team had some characteristics, Rosana's team has others quite different. So this, obviously, is a very impactful change. The number of great players changed from one year to the next, both here and there. And being able to decide at home, which is a big change. Last year we couldn't play a game where we defined the series in the first match here, we had to go to Campinas and didn't play well there and were defeated on penalties.”, evaluated Piccinato.

“And I think this year it will be a game full of duels, competitive, meter by meter. Palmeiras has grown a lot since Rosana arrived and I think we will have to play two great matches, understanding that the first 90 are important and dictate a lot of what the series will be. So prepare well, as it's already here, Sunday is the first game, so we have to prepare well.”, he added.

A point that generated strong dissatisfaction was the possibility of the final being scheduled for the 14th, the same day as an elimination game for the Corinthians men's team. Piccinato stated that the club would like the game on the 13th, to be able to play at Neo Química Arena, but that the interests of rights holders have weighed more than the clubs' wishes.

About the final, we would like it to be on the 13th, because on the 13th we could host the game here. The president gave us this approval so that we could play the final in our stadium, where we have a very good record. But unfortunately, the federation and those who hold the rights have been pushing for it to be on the 14th. And then, on the 14th, Corinthians has an elimination game for men's football, an extremely important game. And the possibilities of playing here end up being diminished.”, reported the coach.

“We talked to the federation, hoping that the federation has the good sense to make this decision, because it is a decision that can define a championship. The difference between playing here with the home team and playing in any stadium with the home team is very big, because here our fans push with an absurd force. The game, on the same day as the important Corinthians game, of men's football, regardless of where we place the game, it will naturally reduce the audience capacity.”, he continued.

The coach also criticized the decision of the Brazilian Women's National Team to use several called-up players during the decisive phase of the clubs. For him, there is a lack of common sense in the calendar and coordination between national and international competitions, which mainly harms the teams that go further.

“The national team obviously is in its right, the commission is in its right to put what they imagine to be the best. Unfortunately, the decision was to put seven athletes who are in the knockout stage to play the game on the 2nd and that ends up disturbing not only here but on the other side, but obviously they are in their right and I am in my right and each one will pull to their side. We regret all this circumstance because I think we could have a little more common sense from all sides, including those who draft the calendar and are the most important person in this process so that we don't have situations like this, because I think the spectacle loses, having the players from the beginning I think would make a big difference as it was done.”, criticized the coach.

Concluding his analysis, the coach once again criticized the organization of the national calendar, stating that clubs like Corinthians and São Paulo suffer disproportionately from the accumulation of games. According to him, the expectation is that the next season will be better planned and allow for a healthier environment for athletes, clubs, and the spectacle itself.

“But I think today, more than the pieces, having changed formation I think gave us the possibility to turn the match around and combining this with the high talent players we have I think was the differential. We hope that truly next year's calendar will be better, the calendar has already been released by the CBF, the federation has not yet set its dates, we are waiting for the federation to set its dates and we can plan, but suddenly the calendar is sent and there is the possibility of having a Copa América here in Brazil.”, started Lucas Piccinato.

“Things in women's football are done in a way that I can't understand why we can't release a calendar that is coherent within the process and that has dates throughout the year so that neither the national team disturbs the club, nor the club disturbs the national team, so that they can coexist and one championship dovetails with another.”, he continued.

“For me, it's not such a complex task but we have let it become complex in recent years and we have suffered, those who reach the main competitions are the teams that suffer the most, and this year Corinthians and São Paulo mainly suffered a lot with this so we hope that for the next season things will improve.”, completed the coach.

Now, the Brabas will face Palmeiras in two matches in the state final – deciding the second match at home for having had a better campaign. The dates and times will still be defined by the Paulista Football Federation (FPF).

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