Dorival hails Corinthians’ win, avoids politics: “Not healthy” | OneFootball

Back on the sideline after serving a two-game suspension, coach Dorival Júnior left the field satisfied with Corinthians’ 1-0 win over Atlético-MG on Saturday night. The manager highlighted the balance between defense and attack and saw the triumph as deserved.

“It was a match within the context that the team had been trying to play in many moments of the championship, with balance, a lot of security, taking few risks. We created, I think that was an important fact. We created a lot and I believe we deserved the result for everything we did over the 90 minutes.”

In Saturday’s clash, Dorival was finally able to count again on the GYM trio (Garro, Yuri Alberto and Memphis). The coach valued the return of the three players to the starting lineup against Atlético-MG, but also took the opportunity to recall the solutions the coaching staff had to find amid absences, such as betting on academy youngsters.

“It was the first time in the Brasileiro after about 23 matches I’ve been here that we had these three players together for the first time, still missing Carrillo, Martínez himself, André, who were left out. Maybe I’m forgetting one or two names. We had many difficulties throughout the competitions and, sometimes, people hardly remember that situation. We went to get some academy boys whom nobody knew, who hadn’t been rising in their age groups. And little by little, they have been giving us a response,” said the coach.

Midfielder Maycon, who scored the winning goal for Corinthians, also earned praise from Dorival. The player won back his place amid competition and regained a starting spot after the coach’s arrival, pleasing the staff with his performances. He is living his best moment of the season.

“He’s a player I like a lot and, above all, have a lot of confidence in. He was being questioned in every way when we arrived here, and I didn’t understand how a player of this level had ‘unlearned.’ Such a situation wasn’t possible. I’m very happy he’s been able to rediscover his best form. I think we always have to believe. Players go through some situations, some ups and downs like all of us, and it’s in those moments that they really show the difference,” praised the coach.

Does politics interfere with day-to-day life?

Dorival was also asked whether political instability interferes with the squad’s daily routine. The issue resurfaced after the dismissal of André Jorge, head of the club’s medical department. The coach was categorical on the subject and admitted discomfort with it.

“I already stated before that it’s not healthy at any club for politics to be involved in day-to-day matters. It’s natural that it does have some interference; in some way it will involve, directly, the club, the players, and the staff. But it’s a situation that has to be resolved. Naturally we hope for the best solutions, that politics becomes less evident in the daily life of all clubs, because it’s not healthy. We don’t know the details of everything that has been happening,” commented the coach.

Corinthians’ position in the table

With the result, Corinthians gave an answer to the Fiel Torcida and returned to winning ways after the bitter defeat in the derby against Santos. Timão got some breathing room and once again opened up a gap from the relegation zone, reaching 12th place with 36 points—eight more than Vitória, who sit atop the Z4 and still play this round.

Corinthians’ upcoming matches

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