Bruno Lazaroni: Vasco’s crisis down to loss of three key players

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Papo na Colina

·27 febbraio 2026

Bruno Lazaroni: Vasco’s crisis down to loss of three key players

Vasco is experiencing a moment of extreme pressure in the Brazilian Championship. On the night of Thursday (26), after a 2-1 defeat to Santos at Vila Belmiro, interim coach Bruno Lazaroni analyzed the scenario that led the club to the bottom of the league table. According to the coach, the instability is a direct result of a deep overhaul that removed the squad’s main technical references and top scorers from the previous season.

When asked about the difficulty in converting their game volume into results, the coach was emphatic in detailing the losses suffered by the group:

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“We have been working. There’s no denying that, the players have been working and feeling it. We have been demanding more from ourselves internally. It’s a moment for reflection so we can try to overcome this with the strength of the group. They have already shown they are capable. It’s a moment of transition. Three major references left the team: Rayan, Vegetti, and Coutinho. Vegetti and Rayan were responsible for more than 50% of our goals. Other players have come in who are capable of taking on this leading role. Once we get our first win, things will take off.”

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Statistical Superiority and the Individual Factor

Analyzing the match at Vila Belmiro, the coach maintained that Vasco produced enough to come away with a better result. In Lazaroni’s view, the team outperformed their opponent in terms of game volume and numbers, but the lack of finishing efficiency was fatal. He pointed out that Cruz-Maltino had a clear chance, very similar to the play that led to Santos’ second goal, but failed to convert.

The coach also acknowledged that the individual brilliance of Neymar was the difference-maker that tipped the scales in favor of Peixe:

“We had better numbers in every aspect, but we lacked efficiency. We had an opportunity very similar to Santos’ second goal. We didn’t score, but they did.”

He reinforced that the internal demand at Vasco for improvement in offensive efficiency is constant among the players and the permanent coaching staff.

Neymar was the man of the match – Photo: Mauricio De Souza/AGIF

Focus on the Semifinal Against Fluminense

With no time to dwell on being at the bottom of the Brasileirão, Vasco turns its attention to the Carioca Championship. Next Sunday (1), at 6 p.m., the Gigante da Colina faces Fluminense at Maracanã in the second leg of the semifinal. After losing the first match, the team needs to beat their rival to secure a spot in the state championship final.

While the board continues to scan the market for a replacement for Fernando Diniz, Lazaroni remains in charge of the group with the mission of restoring the players’ morale. The expectation is that a victory in the derby will serve as the necessary fuel for the new signings, still in the adaptation phase, to deliver the performance expected by the fans and the SAF management.

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