Cássio rues derby loss, team faded after break, on finger injury

In partnership with

Deus me Dibre

·25 janvier 2026

Cássio rues derby loss, team faded after break, on finger injury

After Cruzeiro's 2-1 defeat to Atlético Mineiro this Sunday at the Arena, during the fifth round of the Campeonato Mineiro, goalkeeper Cássio analyzed the result, commented on the team's performance in the derby, and talked about the recovery process from the injury he suffered on one of his fingers. The goalkeeper was one of the best on the field for the team and prevented a larger scoreline.

Cruzeiro took the lead in the first half but suffered a comeback in the final stage, in a game marked by initial balance and greater pressure from Atlético after the break. In Cássio's assessment, the celeste team had difficulties returning in the second half, which contributed to the change in the score.

Vidéos OneFootball

Before talking about the game, the goalkeeper detailed his physical condition as he left the field for Premiere and thanked the support he received to be able to play:

“First about the finger. I ended up tearing all the ligaments, tendon of the finger. I want to thank Cruzeiro's medical department, the owner of the Minha Luva brand, who made a special glove so I could play today. Unfortunately, the victory didn't come, we ended up making mistakes. I think we started the second half slowly, the first half was very tight. In the second half, we started slowly, ended up conceding goals and gradually became disorganized, which can't happen in a derby, but it's the beginning of the season, we're just starting. Of course, it's bad, we're coming off two defeats, I think the best chance for that is Thursday in search of victory in the Brasileirão debut.”

Cássio also commented on the emotional aspect of the squad after the setback and highlighted the players' commitment, mentioning the young Keny Arroyo, who came on in the second half and missed a clear goal situation in the final minutes, leaving the field very emotional and consoled by his teammates.

“About Arroyo, I think every player is very dedicated, committed to the institution, to the club, and it's frustrating when you can't defend, when you concede a goal, and this is a commitment from everyone to the institution.”

With the result, Cruzeiro remained with six points and dropped to second place in Group C of the Campeonato Mineiro. The team now turns its attention to the debut in the Campeonato Brasileiro, scheduled for Thursday, away against Botafogo.

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