Cuca says he will not walk away and promises Santos reaction | OneFootball

Cuca remains confident Santos can respond in the Campeonato Brasileiro, saying he will not walk away despite another defeat.

According to Diario Do Peixe, since his arrival Santos have played 17 matches, led in 14 of them, but failed to hold the advantage in 10, including against Grêmio where they went ahead twice before losing at the Arena.

He views the upcoming World Cup break as crucial to reset the squad physically and mentally, stressing the work goes beyond the pitch to restore balance in the second half of the year. He insisted he would not give up and said they will turn it around.

The coach is also dealing with a spate of fitness issues. João Schmidt, Gabriel Menino, Thaciano, Christian Oliva, Rollheiser and Neymar are all sidelined with physical problems.

Cuca said the team will react by playing well and winning, adding it is a matter of time, though he acknowledged time is passing and they are slipping. He noted they have already met the target of qualifying in the Copa do Brasil. Progress in the Copa Sudamericana depends on a win, and he added they hope to avoid the relegation zone by the end of this first stage.

Santos host Deportivo Cuenca on Tuesday at Vila Belmiro needing victory to keep alive their chances of reaching the competition’s playoffs. They then face Vitória at Vila Belmiro on Saturday 30 at 21:00 in the Campeonato Brasileiro before the break.

Source: Diario Do Peixe