Tamires hails special goal, opens up on Corinthians, wants Neo knockout | OneFootball

Corinthians wrapped up the first phase of the Paulista Women’s Championship with a rout on Wednesday night (26). At Fazendinha, the Brabas beat Taubaté 6-2 in the seventh round of the competition. One of the scorers, Tamires spoke after the match and discussed different topics involving the team’s current moment.

Ariel Godoi scored three times, while Jaqueline, Jhonson and Tamires completed the black-and-white rout. In addition to analyzing the result, the No. 37 commented on the financial situation of women’s football, defended coach Emily Lima’s work, looked ahead to the clash against Cruzeiro and expressed her desire to play the knockout stage at Neo Química Arena.

Photo: Rodrigo Gazzanel / Ag. Corinthians

For Tamires, the goal against Taubaté carried even more meaning because of the presence of her son, Bernardo, who is preparing to travel to the United States, where he will study and play soccer.

“I was very happy to score, I’d been wanting to get this goal for a while. It’s been a year of many challenges for me, but today was a very special goal because Bê, who is my son, came to watch. He always comes, but today was special because he’s going to study and play there in the United States. He got a scholarship, he’s going to do high school there, so this was the last game in which he could see me play live. Scoring today and dedicating it to him makes everything much more special, because he’s also going to follow his dreams, just like I followed mine in football. So I wish him all the luck in the world, that he is very happy and blessed there. It’s already next week, guys, my heart is tightening.”

Meeting with the board and overdue payments

Tamires was also asked about the meeting held between club representatives, players and the coaching staff amid the financial issues involving the women’s squad. The experienced player confirmed that an apology was made and said the athletes were told that the amounts owed will be settled.

No. 37 also highlighted the dialogue maintained with the club presidency and stressed that, while the administrative issues are handled internally, the group is trying to keep its focus on performances on the pitch.

“We were told that they’re going to be settled. There was an apology. They are trying to get Corinthians financially reorganized, and we are always very open there with the president. He always listens to us, always receives us, we always have that exchange with him. So it was important to hear from him as well that he is willing to sort everything out. He always has been, actually, but sometimes things end up becoming a little more difficult. It was important to know that Corinthians is going to pay us this week or next week, and everything will be sorted out. What’s also important is for us to win here on the pitch, do our work every day, so that we can always take Corinthians to victories and to the top of the championships.”

Big win before the knockout stage

After a recent run of results below expectations, Corinthians managed a convincing victory before the quarterfinals of the Brazilian Championship. Tamires especially emphasized the chance to give minutes to different players and restore the squad’s confidence for the decisive stretch of the season.

“It’s very important because we can get the whole squad into match rhythm, getting minutes, using the whole squad and knowing its importance as a whole, because we need everyone. The second half of the season is very demanding, so today everyone deserves congratulations. Everyone started playing good football again, started smiling again. Last weekend was a very painful defeat for us, and now it’s time to pick ourselves up because the knockout stage is here. We know we have to be 100% focused to achieve our goals.”

Tamires defends Emily Lima’s work

The captain also responded about the recent news involving Emily Lima’s work. When addressing the subject, Tamires avoided getting into outside discussions and said the squad remains confident in the work being done by the coaching staff.

“What I’ve always said about the coaching staff is that we always have to respect and believe in the work that is being passed on to us every day, and that’s what we will keep doing. What is said outside is not for us to talk about, question or discuss. We have to keep respecting Emily’s work, doing what she is proposing for us. And we, as athletes, also have to seek our best every day, so that we can give our maximum wearing the Corinthians shirt.”

Matchup with Cruzeiro

With the first phase of the state championship over, Corinthians now turns its attention to the quarterfinals of the Brazilian Women’s Championship. The opponent will be Cruzeiro, which features familiar names to the black-and-white fans, such as Millene Fernandes, Letícia Ferreira and Byanca Brasil, all of whom previously played for Parque São Jorge.

Looking ahead to the clash, Tamires praised one of the players on the Minas Gerais side, but made it clear she hopes her former teammate does not shine precisely against the Brabas. No. 37 also highlighted Cruzeiro’s growth in recent years and the difficulty expected in the knockout tie.

“She is an excellent player, she’s on a huge rise, she deserves everything she has been building. She is on a team that gives her that confidence to work, but I hope that, in the next game, she doesn’t shine too much. I love her as a person, but I hope we can come away with the win. It will be a game that was last year’s final, now it will be the quarterfinals, so it will certainly be a very difficult match. Cruzeiro, as everyone knows, has been growing a lot over the years, they have excellent work there. Now it’s also up to us to put our work into action, impose ourselves on the pitch, so that we can get through.”

Reaction after conceding and assessment of Taubaté

Despite the rout, Corinthians started the match trailing on the scoreboard. Tamires highlighted the Brabas’ ability to respond and revealed a demand from Emily Lima at halftime for the team to raise its intensity and move the ball faster. The full-back also praised Taubaté’s development and said she has followed the opposing team’s growth over the past few years.

“Yes, it’s never good to concede a goal right at the start, but Corinthians stayed focused on the game. Emily also asked in the locker room, at halftime, that we could have more intensity in the game, that we could move the ball faster, so all of that makes a difference in a game like this. Taubaté showed a very good team, a team of young girls that is growing, that is improving. We’ve been playing against Taubaté for many years, and I, having been here for many years, see this huge improvement in them.

But, unfortunately, they end up losing a bit physically and with substitutions, maybe there in the second half, and then Corinthians has to take advantage of that. So hopefully Taubaté will now have a better working structure, that the players can lift their heads and move forward, because they really do have the conditions and a long year ahead so that they can come back even stronger.”

Tamires asks for the quarterfinals at Neo Química Arena

Asked about the players’ preference between Fazendinha and Neo Química Arena, Tamires made it clear that she likes playing at Parque São Jorge, but argued that decisive matches should be taken to Itaquera.

The player also showed confidence in the presence of the Fiel if Corinthians confirms Neo Química Arena as the venue for one of the knockout matches.

“We love playing at Fazendinha. But, like, quarterfinals, knockout stage, it has to be at Neo Química Arena, and we’re going to push for that. I hope the president has no doubts about that, I hope he puts us at Neo Química Arena, because that’s what we expect, that’s what we want. And as for the fans, I’m sure the stadium will be packed as soon as the home venue is set for Neo Química Arena.”

Extra matches in the Paulista Championship

Because it did not secure a direct place in the Paulistão semifinals, Corinthians will have two more state championship matches amid a calendar that will also include the final stretch of the Brazilian Championship and, later, the Women’s Libertadores.

Tamires admitted that avoiding those matchups was part of the planning, but stressed that the squad needs to be ready for the number of matches it will face until the end of the season.

“Yes, we think about that, we thought about that in the planning, if we could manage not to have those two games. But, since it happened, we have to have the mindset to play every game that comes. We know the second half of the season has many matches, it is very difficult, very competitive, so we shouldn’t worry about that. We have to step onto the pitch, we have to play, play well, win games, so that we can have a very good run and not slip up. Because the Libertadores is coming, as you said, God willing a run in the Brazilian Championship too, and the Paulista goes until December 20. So there is still a lot at stake and we have to be prepared, with the whole squad strong and available, to get our results.”

Now, Corinthians temporarily sets the state championship aside and turns its attention to the Brazilian Women’s Championship. Next Monday (31), the Brabas visit Cruzeiro at 7:15 p.m. (Brasília time) at Independência Stadium in Belo Horizonte for the first leg of the quarterfinals.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.