Corinthians boss on Sport loss: We showed courage, not unprepared

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Central do Timão

·22 de septiembre de 2025

Corinthians boss on Sport loss: We showed courage, not unprepared

By Daniel Keppler / Central do Timão Editorial Staff

On the afternoon of this Sunday, 21, Corinthians returned to the field for the Brazilian Championship. In a match valid for the 24th round, Timão went to Ilha do Retiro to face the last-placed Sport and, after an uninspired performance, was defeated by 1 x 0. With this, it continues with 29 points earned and, at the end of the round, will leave the first half of the national tournament's classification table.

After the match, coach Dorival Júnior attended the press in a press conference, where he analyzed the team's performance. “I think we made a mistake in a ball exit, a ball that was in our feet a well-designed play with infiltration of an element, playing behind the opposing team and suddenly in our error of ball exit we ended up taking the goal. From the goal the game ended, we no longer had the dynamics that the match was delivering”, he said.

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Photo: Ciro Hey/Central do Timão

For the coach, Corinthians fought for the result, but ended up losing due to a mistake: “The team fought, gave it their all, dedicated themselves, we faced a Sport that was growing, that was evolving, that was already deserving a result, which ended up happening against our team. I think there was no lack of fight, no lack of commitment, no lack of dedication, we went after it with all the difficulties that the match imposed, even so, one mistake was fatal. It took away the possibility of a great result.”

Dorival also said that Corinthians knew what they would face at Ilha do Retiro, stating that the team prepared for the duel: “(The team) Entered knowing it would be a decision. Entered being aware of the difficulties we would face. We faced them. It was not a game where Sport prevailed over Corinthians, on the contrary. We had most of the time with the ball at our feet. We tried to create. We had a ball on the post, we had some deep plays where the final touch, the final moment was not favorable.”

For the Corinthians coach, the team did not enter the match unprepared. “Quite the contrary. Corinthians was aware of what they would face here. So much so that it prepared very well for this game. (...) We had a performance that was appropriate. Maybe we didn't have much creation, I agree, but we looked for the goal at all times. We played a game, we were aggressive, we were combative, we went on top of the opposing team, but we tried in all ways. Unfortunately, they were there with a sequence in which they were seeking the result and, suddenly, it ended up happening against our team”, he affirmed.

Dorival also denied that Sport surprised the alvinegros: “No, nothing surprised. Sport has been playing very well the last few matches. And sometimes nobody recognizes that. Looking at the classification table, Sport is the last placed team, okay. But what they have been playing, what they have been deserving, Sport might have a different score than it is at this moment.”

The Corinthians commander concluded, praising the “bravery” of the team. “It was not a technically brilliant journey of our team, but we did not stop fighting, we had commitment, seeking the result. A team committed to the pursuit of victory, but it was not a great day. Due to the situations that we could have taken advantage of in a slightly better way, they did not happen. And with that, a mistake in the second half. It took away the possibility of a better result”, he concluded.

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