Dorival Júnior admits prioritising competitions is hard for Corinthians amid fixture pile-up | OneFootball

Dorival Júnior admitted it is hard to set priorities as Corinthians navigate a relentless schedule, short turnarounds and injuries. According to Meu Timao, he said recovery is limited and several players are in the medical department, adding that any push for the Brasileiro title depends on a full-strength squad he does not have yet. He was speaking at Canindé on Sunday.

In a little over 40 days since their season opener, Corinthians have played 13 matches, seven of them in 22 days. They still face Cruzeiro on 25 in the league and Novorizontino on 28 in the semi-finals this month.

The club are trying to avoid a rise in injuries. Yuri Alberto and Kaio César have muscle issues, with Kaio in physical transition, while Breno Bidon and André Luiz also missed recent games. Pre-season began on the third of January after the Copa do Brasil win on 21 December.

Dorival said a brief 10 to 12 day break was followed by immediate action, including big games, leaving little time to assess form and fitness. That, he noted, complicates management before Wednesday’s important match.

The Cruzeiro trip extends their longest run of consecutive away games since 2024. In this spell they beat São Bernardo 1-0 and Athletico Paranaense 1-0, then knocked out Portuguesa on penalties.

Corinthians visit Cruzeiro at 20:00 on Wednesday at the Mineirão. In 2026 they have already won the Supercopa do Brasil and will also contest the Libertadores group stage and Copa do Brasil fifth phase.

Source: Meu Timao