Renato Gaúcho: No favourites, we're fighting on three fronts | OneFootball

The euphoria over qualifying for the Copa do Brasil semifinals was quickly balanced out by coach Renato Gaúcho. In his post-victory press conference after defeating Bahia, the tricolor manager not only celebrated the team’s progress but also set the club’s immediate priorities, “postponing” the focus on the Copa do Brasil to give attention to the Brazilian Championship and the Copa Sudamericana.

When asked about prioritizing the cup competitions, Renato was straightforward, putting into context the long gap until the next stage of the Copa do Brasil. “I think the most important thing is that we advanced today, right? So, to answer your question: yes, now yes. Why? I’ll even tell you in advance, because you probably know, right? Because the semifinal is on December 10th and 14th. By then, the Brazilian Championship will already be over,” the coach explained.

With that, the strategy for the coming months is clear: the Copa do Brasil will take a back seat for a considerable time. “We’re going to watch the Copa do Brasil now, you know? And later, you can be sure, we’ll go back to thinking about it,” Renato said, indicating that the focus is shifting to more immediate challenges.

Immediate priority: Corinthians and Sudamericana

Fluminense’s schedule allows for no respite. Renato Gaúcho has already mapped out the plan for the coming days, with decisive matches on two other fronts. “Until then, next Saturday, we have Corinthians in the Brazilian Championship. And next Tuesday, we already have the Sudamericana,” he pointed out.

This sequence of matches requires careful squad management, and the coach took the opportunity to defend his rotation policy. “When a lot of people criticize me for changing the team to play in the Brazilian Championship, many think it’s not necessary. Yes, it is necessary, because of the fatigue,” he emphasized. “I trust everyone. I tell you, the player has to be ready.”

For Renato, the ability to stay alive and competitive on all fronts is the greatest proof of his squad’s quality. “If we’re still competing in all three tournaments, it’s because the players, the whole group, those who come in and those who start, whether in the Brazilian Championship, Sudamericana, or Copa do Brasil, are getting the job done,” the coach celebrated.

From now on, the celebration for the Copa do Brasil gives way to intense planning for the upcoming clashes. “Today we’re going to celebrate, yes, and starting tomorrow we’ll already be thinking about Corinthians in the Brazilian Championship. And then, from Sunday, when we’ll also train, we’ll go back to thinking about the Sudamericana. But the Copa do Brasil, as I’ve already told you, comes after the Brazilian Championship. So, we have a good speech until then, because we already have a semifinal in one of the cups,” concluded Renato Gaúcho, summing up the ambition and pragmatism of his leadership amid the 2025 marathon.

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