Artur Jorge admits Cruzeiro fell short after Chapecoense draw

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·3 Agustus 2026

Artur Jorge admits Cruzeiro fell short after Chapecoense draw

The goalless draw between Cruzeiro and Chapecoense this Sunday (2), in the first leg of the Copa do Brasil round of 16, did not please coach Artur Jorge. In a press conference after the match at Arena Condá, the coach admitted that the team performed below its potential, especially in the first half, and said the squad needs to show more intensity and aggression in the attacking third.

For Artur Jorge, the short gap between matches also influenced Cruzeiro’s performance. The team had faced Coritiba on Thursday (30) in the Brazilian Championship and returned to the field just two days later. Even so, the coach stressed that this run of games is part of the reality of Brazilian football and demanded improvement from the team.

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“Each player’s replacement depends on the game plan; there is no direct relationship. Up front, there is no direct link between the player who comes off and the one who comes on, that doesn’t happen. It is more about having a second striker than a player between the lines. That is the difference between Bruno and Matheus. We have to admit it was not a brilliant game, and in the first half we were below our potential. We played at a slow pace, with little intensity. In the second half we improved a little, but not much. We have to acknowledge that internally. Playing with only two days in between is brutal, it is brutal for the players, but it is what we have. We need to give a response; today was not the best one, but today it seemed we had more control than the opponent. But in open play, it seemed, even at a lower speed, that we were a team able to move the ball around, create chances, score a goal… I don’t know whether it should have stood or not, but we admit it was not a brilliant game on our part.”

The coach also addressed the squad’s physical condition and linked the fatigue to the packed schedule. In his view, the run of matches with short intervals means some players are in better condition than others, especially those who have been playing more frequently.

“Physical condition has a lot to do with what we demand and the number of games, with short gaps between matches. It has more to do with that; here in Brazil, players end up feeling more comfortable and in better physical condition by playing regularly every three days. We end up having some players who play more than others and become more capable than others. We need to be a more intense and aggressive team offensively, one that can turn into reality what we are able and intend to create, so we can gain an advantage by being more dominant in the result. Being dominant in a 0-0 means little or nothing.”

In addition to analyzing the performance, Artur Jorge was also asked about Cruzeiro’s activity in the transfer market. The coach confirmed that the club is working to replace the losses of Gabriel Pec and Luis Sinisterra, both sidelined through injury, and did not rule out the arrival of more than one reinforcement for the attacking sector.

“We have been talking about the needs. Losing Pec and Sinisterra created a big gap in what our options were. We are making an effort to try to balance the squad. We have been trying and looking at what may arrive, one, two, or three players depending on the market. We have been working in a conscious and united way to make the best decisions and get it right with the arrival of new players to add value to the team.”

With the draw in Chapecó, Cruzeiro will need to win at Mineirão to advance to the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals. Another draw will send the decision to penalties. The return leg will be played next Wednesday (5) at 7 p.m. (Brasília time).

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