Under-20s begin preparations with Paulo Victor, eye Paraguay friendlies | OneFootball

The Brazil Men's U-20 National Team held its first training session under coach Paulo Victor on Monday (23rd). The session, at Corinthians' Joaquim Grava Training Center, was divided between physical work in the gym and ball work on the pitch, allowing the coach to closely observe the group, which will play two friendlies against Paraguay on the 28th and 31st. The first contact left the coach excited: “A promising and very talented generation.”

After successful stints leading the U-15 and U-17 National Teams, and serving as André Jardine’s assistant with the Olympic champion squad, Paulo Victor, known as PV, celebrates his return to the Home of Brazilian Football. The challenge officially began this Monday (23rd), when he led his first session with the players called up for the U-20 National Team’s matches against Paraguay. In addition to the U-20 category, Paulo Victor will also be responsible for leading the Olympic cycle towards 2026, as coach of the U-23 National Team.

In his first session, PV began introducing the playing concepts he employs with the teams he leadsCredits: Staff Images / CBF

“It was a very enjoyable day. Returning to the National Team, to the Home of our football, is always a pleasure and a source of pride and satisfaction. It’s great to be back with the Brazil National Team. It’s a place I’ve had the opportunity to be before, to experience many positive things, and I found a very promising generation, players with hunger, with a very interesting playing ability. Now we’ll keep refining this new generation so we can achieve the goals of the institution, the category, and Brazilian football in general,” he said.

PV explains that he set aside the first few days for activities that combine observation with the introduction of concepts that are part of his work routine. “I planned two days of work with more observation, but already introducing some concepts, some behaviors that we want to carry throughout the cycle. Starting Wednesday, we’ll begin preparing more offensive and defensive patterns so that, as much as possible, we can play a great technical-tactical game on Saturday against Paraguay,” he explained.

PV sees the current generation as very talented and aims to balance the team to play a great debut match against ParaguayCredits: Staff Images / CBF

Regarding the generation he currently has, PV highlights the fact that he is working with a qualified group of athletes born between 2007 and 2008, including holdovers from the U-17 South American title and the last World Cup campaign in the category.

“It’s a promising generation, with a lot of talent, mixing players born in 2007 and 2008. It’s a very talented generation in the offensive sector, and we’ll seek to balance the positions and roles so we can build a great National Team and once again achieve the goals ahead of us,” he concluded.

The Brazil U-20 National Team will play two friendlies against Paraguay. The first will be on the 28th, at Martins Pereira Stadium, in São José dos Campos (SP), at 7 p.m. The second match will be on the 31st, at Canindé, in São Paulo (SP), at 4 p.m.

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