Artur Jorge on draw with Boca, team’s approach and options used

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·20 Mei 2026

Artur Jorge on draw with Boca, team’s approach and options used

Cruzeiro left La Bombonera with an important point in the bag and the feeling that they could have achieved even more. After a 1-1 draw with Boca Juniors in the penultimate round of the Libertadores group stage, coach Artur Jorge praised the team’s performance, especially in the second half, and said that Raposa had what it took to leave Argentina with the win even while playing part of the match with one man down.

In a press conference after the match, the Portuguese manager highlighted the personality shown by Cruzeiro in one of the most hostile environments in South American football and viewed the draw as a positive result within the context of the match.

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“It really is an important point for us. The difficulty this group brings to every team. We knew it was going to be an intense game, which was confirmed by all the passion both teams put on the field. A tremendous night of football. The point we earned is a product of the context, considering what we had to endure in the second half. I’m left with the feeling that if Gerson hadn’t been sent off, we would have won the game. We had a much more consistent second half, much more like what we’ve been, and we showed personality on a difficult pitch against a difficult team.”

The coach explained that, at halftime, the staff identified problems in the team’s opening minutes, especially in building out from the back. According to him, Cruzeiro confused “control with risk” and had to adjust positioning in order to grow into the game.

“We had the chance to recognize that we allowed too much from the opponent during the first 15, 20 minutes. We confused what it meant to play out with control or with risk. We corrected some behaviors in certain positions and players, and we had a more fluid second half while we still had 11 men, much more capable, more of a team, and a demonstration of personality and quality. The result didn’t change much because of our obligation to alter the team due to a sending-off.”

Asked about the decision to start Bruno Rodrigues, the coach explained that Arroyo’s absence weighed on the choice and detailed the strategy set up for the attacking sector.

“Bruno plays in a position where, today, with Arroyo absent, we went with Bruno because he gives us presence in the box, gives us an option through the middle, and can alternate with Matheus in the linking role. Then, regarding Sinisterra and Neyser, Neyser was much more about not losing speed up front, as happened in the chance he had to score. And Sinisterra is a player with the quality to hold onto the ball, capable of, when the ball reaches him, having the composure needed for the team to breathe and be direct, organized, and not just boot it forward.”

Artur Jorge also emphasized the maturity shown by the Cruzeiro squad, mixing youth and experience in high-level away matches. The coach compared the performance against Boca to the recent draw against Palmeiras in the Brazilian Championship.

“I’d say the importance of youth and the more experienced players is that they complement each other. The ability to have boldness and maturity. It makes the team capable of responding in these environments and against these opponents. We came from a very similar game in São Paulo against Palmeiras. Two away results that show the team is on the path of growth, so it can achieve its objectives.”

The coach also commented on his return to Buenos Aires after winning the 2024 Libertadores, when he was still in charge of Botafogo. Despite the emotional memory, he said his focus is now fully on Cruzeiro’s project.

“Returning to Buenos Aires means returning to a historic day for me, maybe the best day of my sporting life. But today I came with another mission, to help Cruzeiro achieve what it set out to do. We came to win the game. From the 20th minute on, the team showed it had the ability to find itself and play an interesting game in line with what we wanted.”

Regarding the refereeing, which had drawn attention before kickoff because of the pressure of the atmosphere at La Bombonera, Artur Jorge avoided criticism and gave a positive assessment of how the match was handled.

“I must say that given the expectations for this game and the tension that had been building over time, the refereeing was at the level required by the match. And

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