Rui Costa: Crespo's relegation talk is old news before Palmeiras clash | OneFootball

Rui Costa, São Paulo's football executive, downplayed Hernán Crespo's statements at the start of the season and described the topic as "resolved" behind the scenes at the club. Before the team's good phase, which began right after a defeat to Palmeiras, their rival in the Paulista Championship semifinal, the Argentine coach acknowledged the tricolor crisis and even said that the team's goal should be to avoid relegation in the Brasileirão.

"It's a topic already resolved for us. For all of us, it's very clear that Crespo protected the squad in a difficult moment, a time when this squad was being heavily criticized, there was talk of relegation, talk of an inability to reverse the current situation, and his decision was to protect the squad above all else," said Rui Costa.

After the defeat in the Choque-Rei, Crespo declared that "the future of São Paulo would be the 45 points in the Brasileirão". The statement caused internal discomfort and irritated Rafinha, now a club official, and Massis, the current president of the Tricolor.

Since then, São Paulo has embarked on a positive streak, reaching seven games unbeaten. Rui Costa spoke with the coach, understood the "sacrifice" made by the commander, and considered the matter closed.

"We talk with Crespo daily, Crespo talks with the players daily, and any change or adaptation in the discourse is the result of this very honest relationship we have. So, Crespo sacrificed himself for the group, the group understood, we talked internally, and now it's resolved," continued the executive.

São Paulo Squad

Assessing the squad, Rui Costa praised the group and the technical staff, stating that São Paulo has the conditions to compete for titles in any competition it participates in.

"São Paulo today has a squad capable of making it a protagonist in any competition. This is the confidence we have in the group, in the work of the technical staff, in the working conditions provided by the president," said the executive.

"We are ready to fight for any title. Whether these achievements will come is a process that will reveal itself. But São Paulo does have a team prepared to win," he concluded.

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Before focusing their attention on the decisive Choque-Rei, however, São Paulo has a commitment in the Brazilian Championship. This Wednesday, at 9:30 PM (Brasília time), the Tricolor faces Coritiba at Couto Pereira, in the fourth round of the competition.

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