Corinthians Under-20 coach explains full-back choice, praises squad

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Central do Timão

·13 settembre 2025

Corinthians Under-20 coach explains full-back choice, praises squad

By Henrique Pereira / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Corinthians overcame XV de Piracicaba 3-1 last Saturday in the Paulistão U-20. After the victory, coach William Batista highlighted important changes in the team, especially the use of players in new roles. One of the novelties was Robert Lopes, a midfielder by trade who has been playing as a left-back. William explained that the position was lacking in the category and praised the athlete’s attitude.

“It was a deficiency in the category. In the first week of training, I looked at Robert and saw a player, and I spoke to him, with a lot of commitment and responsibility. And that’s his personal competence. I think he’s a responsible and committed guy. And as a player, he has a good short pass, he can build the game well. The fact that he’s a very responsible guy makes him a good defender, which is also what is required of a full-back,” began the black-and-white coach to Meu Timão.

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Photo: Rodrigo Gazzanel/Ag. Corinthians

“He’s a player with a good pass, good crossing, good technique to build from the back. A defender is someone with responsibility and commitment. So I called him to talk. I spoke to him, and he said: ‘I’m at your disposal, whatever you need, let’s do it.’ And I’m happy about that, because he’s been playing well, he’s a guy who deserves it,” he added.

Another player mentioned was Guilherme Pellegrin, who has already played as a forward and is now once again an option at full-back for the youth team. William highlighted the athlete’s talent and the importance of the position.

“Pellegrin has a lot of talent. Nowadays, good full-backs become wingers because they’re good. And sometimes a winger that someone looks at and says: ‘I don’t think this winger is that good,’ he becomes a full-back, because that’s what’s left for him. I told Pellegrin: ‘Pellegrin, I think you’re talented. I think full-back in our country is a position lacking talented players, and those who are talented have great chances in the teams they’re in,” he explained.

“And Pellegrin has that talent for the position. He’s so talented that sometimes he plays as a winger; he’s already been used as a winger. But I think making use of him, the talent he has in a position that is lacking in many clubs around the world, can help his career reach his dream too, which I think is an interesting point for his life. And I think Corinthians also gains a good right-back for the U-20,” he revealed.

William also assessed the level of the squad, comparing it to references like Red Bull Bragantino, Vasco, and América-MG. For the coach, it is essential to structure a succession line that allows the club to remain competitive and develop players ready for the professional team.

“I’ve done three jobs in the last three years with the U-20, one with the professional team, following the U-20 that I got to know very well, which was at América. And what can I say? I can say that from the team I saw, I liked it a lot. I have the reference of Red Bull (Bragantino), I have the reference of Vasco, I have the reference of América (Mineiro). And Corinthians, from what I’ve seen, is not lacking in anything compared to these clubs. I notice it’s a young team because there are a lot of 2007-born players, it’s necessary to have a succession line because playing a year of U-20 with so many young players in the current scenario of our U-20 calendar is a bit risky, because the youngest today is the oldest tomorrow,” he explained.

“And if he’s not a winner, football gives the impression that maybe he’s not good enough. But that has more to do with age, the expectations of those who watch them and expect something from them, than with what they can offer. I think that by building a medium- and long-term project so that there is a succession line from 06 to 07, from 07 to 08, from 08 to 09, we will be able to have a squad with a good number of players. I have a good number of players, the number I like to work with. I’m working with 25, 26 players. The work the staff has been doing in the U-20 has been very good, it’s helped me on a daily basis,” he commented.

“I have good references from what I’ve seen, I like what I have here. I think Corinthians has players with a lot of potential, it’s a young squad that needs to mature and they have been seeking that every day. I think that, going forward, thinking medium and long term, we have to be able to build a good succession line within the category, so that it sustains performance and fights for titles year after year and so that we can serve the professional team,” he concluded.

Now, Corinthians awaits confirmation of the teams qualified for the third phase of the Paulista U-20. The matches are scheduled for September 19 and 26, both Fridays.

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