Roger Machado plans tactical tweak for São Paulo v Inter | OneFootball

By Alexandre Silvestre and Thais Bueno

Coach Roger Machado will use the international break to test a new setup at São Paulo for the team’s next match. The Tricolor manager is planning a tactical change for the game against Internacional.

Roger Machado had already publicly acknowledged that São Paulo needed to find attacking solutions when facing reactive teams or sides that play in a low block. This was an issue that bothered the coach, and one he pledged to solve during the break in the schedule.

Given this scenario, the coach is working on a tactical change for the match against Inter, according to Gazeta Esportiva. The Tricolor boss feels the need to play with at least one winger, a player unafraid to take defenders on and capable of creating individual plays, making the difference in one-on-one situations.

São Paulo’s tactical approach had been kept intact at the start of Roger’s tenure, as he maintained the system used by Hernán Crespo. However, the new coach feels the team lacks more width on the flanks, which is one of the reasons behind the tactical switch. The tendency is for him to field an “inverted” winger, in other words, a right-footed attacker playing wide on the left.

In addition, São Paulo also lost an important squad player, which sped up the process of changing the formation. Forward Lucas Moura suffered fractures to two ribs in the match against Atlético-MG in the Brazilian Championship and still has no timetable for his return.

At the moment, Roger Machado has three natural wingers available in São Paulo’s squad: Ferreirinha, Lucca, and youngster Tetê. Of these, Ferreira is the most experienced and the leading candidate to start against Inter. The No. 11 was used by the coach in the last three matches, but always in the closing minutes.

Lucca, meanwhile, has not been available because he was called up to the Brazil U-20 national team. São Paulo even asked for the forward to be released, but the request was denied by the CBF, according to the report.

Finally, one name who is available is Tetê. Developed in São Paulo’s academy, the 18-year-old has impressed Roger Machado in training and could be included in the squad for the clash against Internacional. The fact is that the coach wants to use an “old-school winger” in the team’s next game.

São Paulo absences

Besides Lucas, São Paulo will also have three other absences for the match against Inter. Ryan Francisco is in the final stage of his physical transition, Enzo Díaz is suspended, and Bobadilla is also not expected to return in time from the Paraguay national team friendlies.

Tapia, meanwhile, still has a chance of being available, but remains doubtful. That is because Chile’s last game takes place in the early hours of Monday into Tuesday, against New Zealand, at 3 a.m. (Brasília time).

São Paulo return to action against Internacional this Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Beira-Rio, in the ninth round of the Brazilian Championship.

São Paulo’s upcoming matches

Internacional vs São Paulo (ninth round of the Brasileirão) Date and time: 04/01 (Wednesday), at 7:30 p.m. (Brasília time) Venue: Beira-Rio Stadium, in Porto Alegre (RS)

São Paulo vs Cruzeiro (tenth round of the Brasileirão) Date and time: 04/04 (Saturday), at 6:30 p.m. (Brasília time) Venue: Morumbis, in São Paulo (SP)

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