Jardim: Performance among best this year, Cruzeiro in Libertadores

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·24 November 2025

Jardim: Performance among best this year, Cruzeiro in Libertadores

After the convincing 3-0 victory over Corinthians this Sunday (23) at Mineirão, coach Leonardo Jardim highlighted Cruzeiro’s superiority throughout the match and emphasized the team’s direct qualification for the Libertadores group stage. The coach analyzed the performance, looked ahead to upcoming fixtures, and spoke about this decisive moment in the season.

Cruzeiro’s Superiority and Dominant Performance

Jardim opened the press conference by stressing that the victory reflected exactly what was seen on the pitch. In his view, Cruzeiro was clearly better in both halves.

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“I think it’s a unanimous assessment that we were superior to our opponent. In the first half, we created some chances but only converted one. In the second half, we stayed strong and scored two more goals. It was a deserved victory. We even scored three, but one was disallowed—I don’t know why. The most important thing is the players’ performance. We played a great game against a great opponent.”

The coach also highlighted that the team delivered one of their most consistent performances at Mineirão this season.

Libertadores Spot: “Cruzeiro is back at its level”

With the win, Cruzeiro reached 68 points and can no longer drop out of the top five, securing a direct spot in the Libertadores group stage. Jardim recalled the transformation of the squad throughout the year and reinforced that the club is returning to where it belongs.

“Certainly, this qualification has everything to do with what the players have done over these ten months. It’s a very different team from the one that started. When we played in the Sudamericana, I said that Cruzeiro wasn’t a team for that competition, because the club’s name deserves Libertadores.”

Jardim also recalled the speech by Pedrinho, the club’s majority SAF shareholder, about restoring the fans’ self-esteem.

“Pedrinho said back then that this group had restored the pride of Cruzeiro fans. Today, we’ve managed not only to give that pride back to the supporters, but also to put Cruzeiro back at its rightful level, which is playing in the most important competition in South America.”

Squad Management and the Remainder of the Brasileirão

Even with qualification secured, Jardim stated that the team does not intend to ease up in the Brasileirão, but admitted concern over fatigue in the match against Santos—a game scheduled just two days before the Copa do Brasil semifinal.

“The main objective has been achieved, but we don’t want to lose positions in the table. The game that worries me most is the one against Santos, because it’s very close to the match against Corinthians in the Copa do Brasil. If we don’t have a strong objective, we’ll need to make changes to stay fresh for the knockout stage.”

The coach mentioned Lucas Romero’s suspension and confirmed that some changes will be inevitable, but stressed that the team needs to maintain its competitive rhythm.

Semifinal Against Corinthians: “Different Games”

Regarding the upcoming rematch with Corinthians in the Copa do Brasil, Jardim assessed that the semifinal will have different characteristics from this Sunday’s match.

“They’re completely different games. Corinthians doesn’t stray much from its structure, just as Cruzeiro doesn’t. It will be a balanced clash, decided by details. Nowadays, there are no easy games in any competition.”

Kaio Jorge: Scoring Form Regained and Tactical Role Valued

The coach also spoke about Kaio Jorge’s current form, after he scored two goals and provided an assist in the match, reaching 21 goals in the Brasileirão.

“Kaio has gone through two great phases. He started very well, then had a period of ten games where he didn’t finish as well, but he kept contributing with pressing, assists, and movement. Now he’s back to finishing the plays that he and the team create.”

More than just his scoring form, Jardim praised the striker’s defensive commitment.

“Goals don’t fall from the sky. They’re worked plays, from the flanks, from first and second balls. And together with Matheus, he has an important defensive role in pressing and in the team’s balance. Even when he wasn’t scoring, he kept that attitude. We want him to keep it up and keep scoring goals.”