Defender hails Corinthians' form; Lingard on scoring at the Arena | OneFootball

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

On the night of this Thursday (30), Corinthians faced Peñarol of Uruguay at Neo Química Arena in the third round of the 2026 Conmebol Libertadores group stage and beat their opponent 2-0. The result all but secured Timão’s place in the round of 16 of the international competition, as they lead Group E with a perfect record — six goals scored and none conceded, eight points clear of the remaining third-placed team with nine points still up for grabs.

Right after the end of the match, still on the pitch, the two Corinthians goalscorers, both in the first half — center-back Gustavo Henrique and midfielder Jesse Lingard — spoke to ESPN Brasil. The defender celebrated Timão’s current form this season and assessed Fernando Diniz’s early work. In seven matches under the new coach, Alvinegro have won five, drawn two, and still have not conceded a goal — eight scored and none allowed.

 Photos: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

 Layout: Central do Timão

“It’s a very special moment for me. First of all, I want to glorify God for what I’m experiencing. I’m very happy, and the whole group deserves praise. A Libertadores night is always very different, so we’re pleased with what we’ve been producing in the competition. We can’t let our heads drop; we need to keep improving, because the run ahead will still be very tough.”

“He (Fernando Diniz) came to help us and add to the squad. The mood is different; we’re very happy with his work. Reaching a seventh match without conceding is very difficult, especially while balancing the Libertadores, the Brazilian Championship, and the Copa do Brasil, which are extremely difficult competitions. It’s a moment of unity for the group; everyone deserves praise for the effort and dedication for Corinthians,” he said.

With the goal he scored, Gustavo Henrique became the defender with the most goals for Timão since 2021, with nine. This season, he has already scored three times and, alongside André Luiz, is Alvinegro’s second-highest scorer in 2026. The leader of the ranking is striker Yuri Alberto, with five goals so far this year.

Next, midfielder Jesse Lingard, who arrived at Parque São Jorge in February after a spell in South Korean football and a long career in Europe — English football and the national team — spoke about the feeling of scoring for the first time in Itaquera and his adaptation to Brazilian football. In nine matches wearing the Corinthians shirt so far (three as a starter), he has scored two goals, in addition to five wins, two draws, and two losses.

“It’s a different feeling (scoring at the Arena and in an international competition). The Libertadores is a huge competition and we want to reach the final. That’s why we give 100% every day, work hard, and deserve to come away with the win. At the beginning, you need to adapt quickly and get used to how the coach wants you to play. I feel the whole team is taking on the style of play quickly. We’re in a good moment, with a run of seven unbeaten matches. We’re on the right path and we need to keep working hard,” he stressed.

Corinthians now turn their focus to the Brazilian Championship. That is because next Sunday (3), at 8:30 p.m. (Brasília time), Alvinegro will visit Mirassol at Maião for the 14th round of the national competition. Timão currently sit 14th with 15 points — three wins, six draws, and four defeats — with nine goals scored and 11 conceded.

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