Diniz backs Vasco captain, explains absence: "He's a key starter" | OneFootball

The victory of Vasco over Fortaleza with a more mobile attacking trio sparked an intense debate about the starting position of Pablo Vegetti. However, coach Fernando Diniz made a point of putting an end to the controversy. In his press conference, the coach shielded his captain, explained his absence from the match, and reinforced his fundamental importance to the team.

+ Vasco’s coach details the victory with 10 men and praises his players: “Clear candidates to go to the World Cup”

Vasco’s coach explains the decision not to use the player

Vegetti did not take the field in the 2-0 win, which fueled speculation about a possible loss of his spot. Diniz, however, explained that the decision was purely tactical, due to the sending off of Hugo Moura in the first half. He stated:

Despite an eight-game goal drought, the striker’s prestige with the coach remains intact. Diniz dismissed the idea that the Argentine has become a substitute and praised his qualities. The coach declared:

From the bench, Vegetti celebrated David’s goal – Photo: Dikran Sahagian/Vasco

Victory was a “birthday present”

The coach also revealed a special detail: the victory was dedicated to number 99, who was celebrating his birthday on the day of the match.

“Today he was very important and it was also Vegetti’s birthday. The win was a present for him. He’s a guy we really count on here”, concluded Diniz, putting an end to any speculation about his captain’s status.

+ Follow Papo na Colina on social media: Thread, Bluesky, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok and Google News

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