Fábio Matias officially unveiled as new Portuguesa manager | OneFootball

This Thursday, Portuguesa officially introduced Fábio Matias as their new coach. In a press conference at Canindé, the coach spoke about his expectations for the challenge of leading Lusa and the first steps of his work.

Early Arrival and Planning

When asked about the reasons that attracted him to take over Portuguesa, Matias spoke about the importance of planning for the next season and highlighted the tradition of the São Paulo club.

“This early arrival, long before the championship starts, is one of the things that greatly validated my coming here, and my desire to come to Portuguesa is to have this time to organize things, and that's what Portuguesa needs, time to choose players, time to work,” he said.

“Portuguesa is very well structured. It's a big team, going through a tough time since 2014. But we have to build something new, together. That's why we signed a contract until 2027, a long contract so we can achieve what Portuguesa needs,” concluded the coach.

Winning Mentality and Fan Pressure

The new coach also emphasized the importance of creating a winning mentality and a competitive spirit in the squad. “I'm saying nice words, but this has to come from here,” he commented.

Regarding the relationship with the fans, Matias showed understanding of the pressure. “Pressure from the fans is normal. We know that Portuguesa's fans are hurt. We have to be very clear that the team's current moment is one of restructuring. The fans need to understand this,” he stated.

Focus on Paulistão and Climbing in Série D

The coach also commented on the difficulties of Série D, which they will compete in again next season.

“For me, Série D is the toughest championship. You can have the biggest investment and the best team, but if you reach the knockout stage and don't compete, you're out. The player who comes needs to believe in the project, want to be here. I'm at Portuguesa because I want to be here,” he declared.

Regarding expectations for the next season, the coach made it clear where Portuguesa's focus will be. “We want to have a safe championship in Paulistão. Our main focus is: Paulistão and climbing in Série D. To be São Paulo champions? Hold on, let's be realistic. That's not our focus,” he concluded.

Next Steps at Portuguesa

Matias arrives to replace Caun de Almeida, who was dismissed after the team's elimination in Série D of the Brasileirão. At 46 years old, the coach has had stints at Botafogo, Juventude, and Atlético-GO, which was his last club, where he worked until July of this year.

Fábio Matias officially starts work on October 8, when the squad returns to the training center. In 2025, the coach will face two major challenges: the Campeonato Paulista and the Série D competition.

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