Tite praises Cruzeiro youngsters’ maturity after win over Tombense

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·15 de enero de 2026

Tite praises Cruzeiro youngsters’ maturity after win over Tombense

Cruzeiro defeated Tombense 2-1 on Wednesday (14) in Uberlândia, during the second round of the Campeonato Mineiro, and returned to the field with a team mostly composed of young players from the youth categories and athletes at the beginning of their professional careers. After the match, coach Tite held a press conference alongside assistant Wesley Carvalho and praised the performance, maturity, and response of the young players used at the start of the State Championship, while the main squad continues in the preseason period.

Tite emphasized that the result goes beyond the three points and represents an important step in the athletes' development. For the coach, the victory was built with performance and personality, even in the face of the natural difficulties of a team that had rarely played together.

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“There are victories that make the coach very happy in normal situations. Because it is very difficult to field a team that has never played together, some athletes have their first victory as professionals, athletes who had never played before and translated it into performance and victory. The victory was the result, combining the best performance, perhaps with a broader result than it could have been. And they should be happy with this whole context.”

Assistant Wesley Carvalho reinforced the importance of the moment for the young players and explained how the club views the utilization of these players throughout the season. According to him, each opportunity needs to be maximized within a gradual process.

“I think each of them knew how to make the most of the minutes they had and life is like that, they play 15 minutes and turn it into 30, then 45, until they become starters. The conversation before playing with Tite is ‘make the most of the moment’. Because it is difficult to become an elite player in Brazil. It was the moment they had to enjoy, not let fear get in the way. I think they made the most of it and new opportunities will be offered because besides having two teams, there is now a third team that becomes a mirror.”

Looking ahead to the continuation of the Campeonato Mineiro, Tite highlighted the intensity of the technical staff's work and the importance of maintaining focus game by game, even with the good start.

“I have so much information about the athletes, individually, preparing for the game, that I prepare from one game to the next. We work full time. With this joy of being back, with the satisfaction of the victory and this performance, it’s about thinking about Saturday’s game.”

The coach also commented on the tactical choices, such as using Ryan and Japa as midfielders, and explained that the team's balance goes beyond the simple lineup compared to the first game.

“Perhaps not the lineup, but what the team set out to do, it can demonstrate that it can be balanced. It’s good to have the ball and it’s good to score goals. The defensive phase is necessary for the team to win. The idea (in the first game) was not to have a more defensive team, it was the available players, Japa playing an external role coming inside, a Christian. What we didn’t have was a specific number 9. Chico (today) gave us that possibility.”

Speaking about the club's planning and the arrival of experienced reinforcements like Gerson, Tite emphasized that the main move by the management was maintaining the core of the squad.

“The first big job of the management is the retention of Kaio Jorge, the retention of Matheus Pereira, the entire core team. Including the replacement pieces. Because this gives a solid team, that plays without thinking, well-integrated, which can add some players. It’s better to bring in players, like Gerson, who can add quality and leave room for new players to emerge. It’s about valuing first. When talking about Cruzeiro, I looked at the jersey and said ‘It’s Matheus’, it’s Fabrício, it’s William. Then this addition.”

In evaluating the young players, Wesley once again advocated for patience and support for the athletes, saying that “it would be unfair, or perhaps unwise, to discard the players after a first impression. Tite gave the boys confidence, let them develop. Today they returned, provided tranquility, and we will maintain that. This is, first, learning, second, congratulating Tite for having an attitude like this, to give the boys confidence.”

Next, Tite detailed the characteristics that led to the choice of forward Chico da Costa, who arrived this season and has already gained his first opportunity in the main team:

“Chico has a characteristic we needed in the team. Kaio attacks space, Neiser attacks space, explosiveness. We needed a player to hold the ball up front, so that in the pivot, the infiltrations can follow. I know him, you know him too, he has this striking characteristic, intelligent for short passing, he puts someone in front of the goal. He will add, get physically conditioned, for different possibilities that may occur in the game.”

Finally, Tite explained how the preseason is planned in conjunction with the medical and physiology departments, prioritizing the athletes' health over a long calendar.

“The coach and technical staff don’t spare anyone, they want to have everyone. But there is the medical department, physiology, to not expose the athlete to injury and lose them in a sequence of work. Having athletes who can replace, to not have a tiring sequence and maintain the level as well. The base team athletes were all in the Mineirão locker room, to give the boys confidence. The coach doesn’t implant a soul. It’s a team that has soul.”

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