Bachi on Vojvoda chat: explains two holding midfielders in defeat | OneFootball

Santos lost 2-0 to Bahia on Sunday, away from home, for the 21st round of the Brazilian Championship. Matheus Bachi, who was in charge of Santos in Salvador, highlighted the players' concentration, especially after a turbulent week, but regretted the lack of offensive production.

"We came with a game plan to attack the opponent, to press high and then try to maintain a medium block, knowing Bahia's quality. Defensively we had a good first half but we exposed ourselves at times, especially in the second half, when we went to attack to regain the ball," he said.

"We conceded a goal around the 15th minute after a week that was complicated. These players worked very well during the week and had the awareness and concentration not to leave the game. We stayed in the game, we started to grow even in the first half. We were not effective offensively, we didn't have the situations we wanted. But we were committed throughout the game," he added.

The assistant also explained the strategy of fielding Santos with two defensive midfielders. João Schmidt and Tomás Rincón were starters.

"We worked this week with a strategy of, when in possession, to sink and make a 3x1 with one of the two (Rincón or Schmidt). Both have a long ball ability and the ability to drop and make a third defender, activating the fullbacks. We managed to do this a few times, but our men who were supposed to be inside, ended up coming to get the ball. It's normal in a team regaining confidence. In the second half we managed to do this better. We had situations and a penalty that was not called," he analyzed.

Bachi also revealed that he spoke with Vojvoda, Santos' new coach, during the week. The Argentine has not yet debuted, but he was at Fonte Nova on Sunday and went to the locker room to talk to the squad.

"I received a lot of autonomy from the board to conduct the work together with Cesar Sampaio and the entire coaching staff. Vojvoda has always been very polite and willing to understand the squad's moment and characteristics. To be able to give some of his ideas, always supporting me and the coaching staff so that we had freedom in decision making," he said.

"It was a very respectful and brief interaction with Vojvoda (post-game). He already feels part of everything that is happening and that together we will get out of this situation," he added.

With the result, Santos remains in 15th place, with 21 points, two more than Vitória, who opens the relegation zone. However, Vitória still plays in the round, against Flamengo, away.

Santos returns to the field next Sunday, when they face Fluminense, for the 22nd round of the Serie A. The ball rolls on the pitch of Vila Belmiro from 4 pm (Brasília time).

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