Cuca oversees first Santos session ahead of Cruzeiro match | OneFootball

Cuca led his first session in charge of Santos on Friday afternoon at CT Rei Pelé. According to Diario Do Peixe, he addressed the squad in the auditorium before heading out for technical and tactical work.

Still in his bedding-in phase, he did not outline a starting XI. He is expected to use Saturday’s training to finalise the team to face Cruzeiro on Sunday.

Midfielder Zé Rafael, recovered from oedema in the right semimembranosus thigh muscle, trained fully with the group. Gabriel Bontempo, returning from a lumbar contracture, took part in a portion of the session on the pitch.

Full-back Vinícius Lira has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and is out for the season. Forwards Gabigol and Lautaro Díaz are unavailable for contractual reasons, as they are contracted to Cruzeiro, while Neymar is sidelined for workload management.

Santos train again on Saturday, when the new coach is expected to start assembling his line-up. The Cruzeiro match is on Sunday 22 at 16:00 at Mineirão, in the eighth round of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.

Source: Diario Do Peixe