Renato Gaúcho urges mid-year reinforcements as he sizes up slim Vasco squad | OneFootball

Renato Gaúcho has called for mid-year reinforcements as he assesses a slim Vasco squad, even as his unbeaten start returns 10 points from 12. According to Globo.com, the coach has begun preparations with his players during the Data Fifa break and views the next window as pivotal.

He says the mood has lifted but is urging calm, stressing the need for hard work. He has been mobbed by supporters on the beach, yet insists he is keeping his feet on the ground.

He counts 24 players, including three promoted from the academy, and argues the group is too small. He speaks regularly with Pedrinho and the board, and believes additions in the second window during the Copa do Mundo pause are required to think even bigger.

He has not sought specific signings in the domestic window that closes on Friday. There is an internal plan to target priority positions in mid-year, when better opportunities are available, notably in Europe. A defensive midfielder is the priority, with other roles also under review.

Given domestic-window constraints, attention has turned to internal solutions until mid-year. From April the schedule ramps up, with the Brasileirão, Copa Sul-Americana and Copa do Brasil all on the slate.

Vasco face 17 matches by the end of May, nine in the league, six in the Sul-Americana group stage and two in the fifth round of the Copa do Brasil.

His message has centred on commitment and confidence, which he says underpinned the turnaround. Vasco have climbed from 20th after four rounds with one point to ninth on 11 points, including 10 from 12 against Palmeiras, Cruzeiro, Fluminense and Grêmio.

Renato has a free week for further tests before competition resumes. Vasco next visit Coritiba on 1 April at 20:30 at Couto Pereira.

Source: Globo.com