Cuca raises fitness alarm at Santos after 2-2 draw against San Lorenzo | OneFootball

Santos let a 2-0 lead slip to draw 2-2 with San Lorenzo in the Copa Sudamericana at Vila Belmiro. According to Diario Do Peixe, Cuca again voiced concern over his squad’s fitness after another second-half drop-off.

Rollheiser was withdrawn at half-time. Barreal, filling in at left-back, also had to come off through fatigue, while Igor Vinícius and Miguelito showed clear signs of tiredness.

Cuca said the team struggle to sustain intensity for 90 minutes, with several at their limit. He cited hamstring pain and Gustavinho’s pubis issue, adding that training loads have been cut. He noted Igor’s fatigue with no right-back cover as Mayke is out, and only Rafael on the left.

Santos already have Thaciano, João Schmidt and Gabriel Menino out with muscle injuries, and Neymar is sidelined with a mild right-calf issue. Cuca said Gustavinho and Bontempo have struggled to last games, options are thin, and further in-game management only heightens injury risk in a stretched squad.

The pattern has shown in recent results. Since Cuca’s arrival, Santos have played 16 matches and in seven they have led before conceding equalisers or turning over to defeats.

Attention now turns to the Campeonato Brasileiro, with Grêmio away on Saturday at 19:00 Brasília time at the Arena do Grêmio in round 17. On Tuesday Santos host Deportivo Cuenca in the Sudamericana, sitting on four points, bottom of Group D, unable to top it yet still chasing second and a playoff place.

Source: Diario Do Peixe