Crespo still confident in São Paulo's Paulista hopes: "I'm confident" | OneFootball

Coach Hernán Crespo has not yet given up on trying to lead São Paulo to the quarter-finals of the Campeonato Paulista. The Tricolor, which is at the lower end of the table and close to the relegation zone, still has three games ahead to secure a spot in the knockout stage.

Currently, São Paulo's situation in the table is as follows: the club is in 14th place, with four points—the same as Noroeste, which opens the Z2. The first team in the knockout stage qualifying zone is São Bernardo, with seven points in eighth place.

Even so, Crespo believes in São Paulo's recovery and understands that the team has chances to reach the quarter-finals, especially due to the favorable schedule.

“I think they are two different things, two different championships. We played the Brasileiro and now we have to talk about the Paulistão again. In the Paulistão, at this moment, we have three games: two at Morumbis and one away, against the last classified. I am confident,” emphasized Crespo in a press conference after the 2-1 victory over Flamengo, in the Brasileirão.

The most important of these commitments takes place this Saturday. São Paulo hosts Santos starting at 8:30 PM (Brasília time), at Morumbis, for the sixth round of the State Championship.

After that, the Tricolor faces Primavera (seventh place) on February 7th, also at Morumbis. Finally, they visit Ponte Preta on February 15th, at Moisés Lucarelli. Macaca is the bottom of the State Championship, with only one point earned so far.

Team Unity is São Paulo's Strength

Crespo also made it clear that one of São Paulo's strengths in the quest for qualification, even amid the tight schedule, is the unity of the squad. It was due to this change in attitude, for example, that the Tricolor managed to beat Flamengo from behind last Wednesday in the opening of the Brasileirão.

Moreover, the coach also explained that he is willing to adapt strategies for each opponent. Against Flamengo, for example, he returned to a three-defender line.

“The other day I said I liked the game against Palmeiras, and they called me crazy because we lost. We work every day for results, but we have to pursue the idea, what is best for the team. It depends on the opponent, the characteristics. I am happy because Calleri returned to play in the Brasileirão after ten months, for Enzo, who returned after two months,” he stated.

“I think we try to do the best we can within the limits we have. This demonstration of group unity, of fighting, believing, deserves continuity. It's not easy, there are many games, but this group has character, a lot of unity. Anything can happen, but they will never stop playing with determination,” he concluded.

The victory over Flamengo lifts a weight off São Paulo's shoulders, allowing them to more calmly evaluate which strategies and attitudes to take in the classic against Santos, crucial for the Tricolor's aspirations in the Paulista.

Situation in the Brasileiro

With the result, São Paulo ended a three-game winless streak—one draw and two losses in that stretch. The Tricolor also debuted with a victory in the Brazilian Championship and earned the first three points, taking third place.

Upcoming São Paulo Matches

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