Dorival: Corinthians deserved defeat, Copa do Brasil will differ | OneFootball

Coach Dorival Júnior assessed that Corinthians completely deserved the 3-0 defeat to Cruzeiro this Sunday, in the 35th round of the Brazilian Championship. The Timão was dominated by the rival from Minas and finished the match at Mineirão without any shots on target.

"Cruzeiro deserved the result from the first to the last minute, played a safe, balanced match within their conditions, created, on a night when once again we couldn't find our paths. We didn't have ball possession, we had the ball at few moments in the match, and we went through serious difficulties throughout the entire period," analyzed Dorival.

This Sunday's match was a preview of the Brazilian Cup semifinal, where Cruzeiro and Corinthians will face each other for a spot in the final. According to Dorival, Timão can learn some lessons from the defeat, but the coach also called for a different attitude from the team.

"[There are] Many lessons and we have to interpret them correctly. And the main thing, we need to have the attitude of a team that really wants to achieve a better situation in such an important championship, in a very crucial phase, so that we can deserve to seek a passage," said the coach, who showed belief in a different scenario in the Brazilian Cup.

"I'm sure the fans trust the team and the scenario will be different, for sure. Let's wait, and you can ask me after the two matches," he added.

Dorival explains changes

Dorival's choices for the starting lineup, maintained with three defenders, as well as the changes in the second half, drew attention. Raniele, recovered from an injury, started in midfield, as did Hugo, who replaced Bidu as the left wing-back. At halftime, Carrillo, André, and Vitinho were brought on.

"Every time you take someone out, another is always questioned. The other day it was André Ramalho's return and Tchoca's absence. Today, the presence of one and the absence of another. It's a matter of timing, you have to make a choice. We didn't have the ball, we needed an option with ball possession, hence Carrillo. He's a player who can give us that, and he delivered. I strengthened the sector with André's presence," he explained.

"The option with three defenders and the freedom of the full-backs was working. Today it didn't happen, that freedom wasn't utilized. We didn't have ball possession and we didn't create. And worse, in the moments we went for the transition, we made passing errors inside and Cruzeiro is very vertical and reached us with ease. We had to change because of that," he added.

Dorival was also questioned about José Martínez's expulsion, the second in the last four games, but he sidestepped. The Venezuelan, who returned from suspension against São Paulo, is suspended again and will not face Botafogo next Sunday.

"It draws all our attention, an isolated play, very difficult to imagine what might happen with the athlete at a moment like this. It was a simple play, there was no contest, it was a simple play, there was no contest. On the contrary, he arrived right after the play. But it's difficult to make an assessment from outside the way we were observing," concluded the coach.

Standings Situation

With the result, Corinthians once again fluctuated in the Brasileirão and saw the dream of a spot in the Pre-Libertadores become more distant. The Alvinegro is in tenth place, with 45 points, and can no longer reach the G7. The team is ten points behind Fluminense, currently in seventh place.

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