Tolói downplays key role at São Paulo, denies Palmeiras revenge | OneFootball

Defender Rafael Tolói was one of the new additions to the lineup of São Paulo for the match last Wednesday against Coritiba at the Couto Pereira Stadium, for the fourth round of the Brazilian Championship. Coach Hernán Crespo, already eyeing the Paulista semifinal, fielded an alternative team, composed of players with less playing time.

Tolói had not played for São Paulo for over a month. He made his season debut in the defeat to Portuguesa and since then had been trying to find a place in the starting lineup. The opportunity arose this Wednesday, and the defender seized it with both hands.

São Paulo's number 2 completed the 90 minutes on the field and recorded two tackles, two interceptions, three clearances, and four ball recoveries, according to Sofascore data. The player expressed his happiness for the good performance but dismissed individual prominence and valued the group as a whole.

With the positive result over Coritiba, São Paulo reached 10 points and remained in second place in the Brazilian Championship, as Palmeiras also won in the round. The team also remained unbeaten in the competition, with three wins and one draw.

“The championship is very difficult, it's important to achieve this winning streak, which makes the difference. I think we're in a very good moment, everyone is well, we don't have injury problems, last year was complicated in that aspect too. We need to keep working hard because the season is just starting,” he assessed.

Tolói denies revenge against Palmeiras

São Paulo now shifts focus to the Paulista Championship semifinal, where they will face Palmeiras. The match kicks off at 8:30 PM (Brasília time) this Sunday, on the field of Arena Barueri.

The São Paulo team will meet Palmeiras again, their last defeat in the current season. Hernán Crespo's team lost to Verdão and, after that, started an unbeaten streak of eight matches. There are already seven wins and one draw.

Palmeiras was also the rival that eliminated São Paulo from the Paulista Championship last year, also in the semifinal, with a controversial penalty awarded against Vitor Roque. Tolói, however, denied any feeling of revenge and focused only on the next game.

“No [there's no feeling of revenge]. It's a classic, a knockout, a decision, and São Paulo comes to decisions to move forward. We'll have these days to work and arrive on Sunday with full strength, to advance and reach the final,” concluded the defender.

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