Dorival explains GYM trio’s comeback and Corinthians’ 2026 plans

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Central do Timão

·29 Januari 2026

Dorival explains GYM trio’s comeback and Corinthians’ 2026 plans

By Vinícios Cotrim | Central do Timão Editorial Team

Corinthians played their first Brasileirão match at the Urbano Caldeira Stadium, Vila Belmiro, and were defeated by Bahia. After the final whistle, coach Dorival Júnior spoke about the recovery of the trio Garro, Yuri Alberto, and Memphis Depay, who started together for the first time this year, as well as the schedule for the team at the start of the season.

“I think that for most of the time they gave us the response we needed, and we have to believe. Garro is coming back after a long time, where he sped up the process to participate in the finals, now already more recovered, with a slightly different dynamic. I have no doubt that Garro can return to being that player from 2024, when we all followed him. I wasn’t here, but I watched most of Corinthians’ matches. So, he’s a player of very high level,” said Dorival Júnior.

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Photo: TV Central do Timão

“Yuri is regaining his best form, and Memphis is playing his first match after almost 40 days without an official game. I think it takes a little patience, a little calm, tranquility, and they will find their best moment. And who knows, in the most important game of this month, we might have them in top condition and, perhaps, fulfilling everything we expect from them,” he added.

The coach reiterated that the club’s main objective at the start of the year is the Supercopa do Brasil, which takes place next Sunday. Corinthians will face Flamengo after winning the Copa do Brasil, against the current Brasileirão champions.

“Of course, I had no other path. A team that doesn’t have a pre-season, a team that doesn’t have a rest period, a team that loses six or seven players from a squad that already needed some changes. We are arriving, three or four athletes are coming in. All of this is a process that is being developed, and it will grow over time. For me, a win or a loss at the weekend doesn’t change anything in the schedule we have. We need to have a plan. You can’t manage results, there’s no way,” said the coach about the schedule.

“So, we need to be aware that, positively or negatively, you have to stick to what is scheduled, planned, naturally improving, qualifying, seeking to speed up processes and work so that the team as a whole, the team and the squad, are able to withstand the three or four competitions we will have throughout the season, which won’t be easy. That’s why we need to quickly regularize our group. Have the squad assembled, put together, so that we can perform in the competitions,” he added.

Now, Corinthians will have the big match of the start of 2026. Timão faces Flamengo for the Supercopa do Brasil, next Sunday, February 1st. The match will take place at Estádio Mané Garrincha, starting at 4pm (Brasília time).

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