Jardim rues missed chances, sees FIFA break as recovery chance

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·6 ottobre 2025

Jardim rues missed chances, sees FIFA break as recovery chance

Cruzeiro only managed a 1-1 draw with Sport on Sunday (5), at Mineirão, for the 27th round of the Brazilian Championship. After falling behind, the Raposa sought an equalizer with Gabigol in the second half, but couldn't manage a turnaround against the Pernambuco team, which is at the bottom of the competition.

After the final whistle, coach Leonardo Jardim acknowledged the defensive mistakes and lack of offensive efficiency, but valued the team's attitude.

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“We had control of the game in the first half. We had several actions to finish and we were not efficient. We ended up conceding a goal in a defensive error that is not usual. A ball behind us and the opponent left the first half winning. In the second half we had to expose ourselves more offensively and the game was less controlled on our part, more divided between action and reaction. Even with a lot of emotion, we couldn't score the second goal to win the three points," he analyzed.

The coach also highlighted the impact of the sequence of games and the injuries that have been affecting the squad.

“The game against Flamengo had its impact on this game, it took out four starters, at 10 minutes we had another player leaving, and surely only those who are not involved in football can think that it has no influence. Those who came in are not lacking quality, it's lack of rhythm, they are players who have played less and could not impose themselves at the level of those who have played more games," he stated.

Among the absentees, Jardim updated the clinical situation of some athletes.

“Surely all players can be used, Japa too. He is a young man we have a special affection for, it's a pity he hasn't had more playing time. Regarding Matheus Henrique, it's possibly a rib fracture. Christian has Achilles tendon fatigue that was already limiting him. Sinisterra felt his hamstrings, he is a risk player and felt this situation, in addition to fatigue from other players. Now it's time to take advantage of this break to recover the players well to be fresh for the next game."

When asked about criticisms of players like Marquinhos, the coach defended the squad and took responsibility for the result.

“Marquinhos is a player in the squad, who works well and gives his best. He is criticized, but I don't believe anyone thinks he was responsible for the draw after playing eight minutes. That's why we have to be clear and I don't like to raise suspicions about things that don't exist. If he played 90 minutes or 80, then we could talk. But I don't think Marquinhos who came in seven minutes from the end or Ryan (Guilherme) have responsibility for the draw on their shoulders. The responsibility is the coach's and no one else's," he concluded.

With the result, Cruzeiro remains in third place, with 52 points, while Sport remains at the bottom, with 16. Now, the Brazilian Championship will take a ten-day break due to the Fifa date. The celestial team returns to the field in the classic against Atlético-MG, on October 15, at 9:30 pm, at Arena MRV.

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