Mathues França’s role shows Vasco’s midfielders left out

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·6 November 2025

Mathues França’s role shows Vasco’s midfielders left out

Vasco saw coach Fernando Diniz improvise by using Matheus França as a defensive midfielder for the second game in a row. The 3-0 defeat to Botafogo this Wednesday (5th) laid bare a new hierarchy within the squad. The choice of the attacking midfielder highlights the limited opportunities for specialists in that position.

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Diniz’s justification for the change

Matheus França came on at halftime against Botafogo, replacing Tchê Tchê. The coach admitted that the substitution didn’t work and that the team got worse.

“I wanted the team to have a more offensive characteristic to try to equalize,” Diniz explained.

The coach, however, was unequivocal about his priority for the position.

“If I’m putting him (Matheus França) in, it’s because I think he’s ahead (in the competition for the position),” he added.

The improvisation had already occurred in the defeat to São Paulo on Sunday.

Matheus França has come on in every game – Photo: Matheus Lima

Specialists sidelined at Vasco

Diniz’s comments highlight the sidelining of other specialist defensive midfielders. Paulinho, the hero of 2023, hasn’t played in over a month. His last match was against Ceará on September 14, and he has never started under the current coach.

Mateus Carvalho, a guaranteed starter last season, also remained on the bench at Nilton Santos. Thiago Mendes, the first signing of the last transfer window, has only started one game and even went two months without playing. The squad still feels the absence of Jair, who will only return in 2026.