Renato: Qualification joy, tactical tweaks, Thiago Silva’s leadership | OneFootball

After the 2-0 victory over Bahia at Maracanã, which secured Fluminense a spot in the semifinals of the Copa do Brasil (2-1 on aggregate), Renato Gaúcho highlighted the team’s collective strength, explained his tactical choices, and emphasized the importance of squad management amid a tight schedule. The coach also made a point of praising the leadership of Thiago Silva, who scored the goal that paved the way for qualification.

Right from the start, Renato asked for recognition of the group’s work and the level of the opponents they have overcome so far in the knockout stages. “First of all, we have to really value our qualification. A lot of people criticize my group. In the round of 16, we faced Internacional, which is a powerhouse in Brazilian football, and we eliminated them. Then we faced Bahia in the quarterfinals and eliminated them. So, above all, congratulations to my group. They keep believing. We are competing in three tournaments. And it’s not easy at all.”

The coach contextualized the team’s preparation after the FIFA break, when he chose to balance rest and specific training. “We just had the FIFA break. I gave the group four days off because they needed it, especially since we were coming off a straight run from the World Cup. And we had the opportunity to train for four or five days, mainly focusing on tactics. We had time during the week to work on set pieces and rehearsed plays. We did a lot of that last Monday, and the goal, in fact, came from a set piece.”

On the other side, Renato anticipated Bahia’s strategy and outlined the adjustments that unlocked the game in the second half. “We knew Bahia would play today in a 4-5-1 formation, they would defend well, as they usually do. That’s why we trained a lot on tactics, on ways to break their line. We didn’t break through much in the first half; we changed our style of play in the second. We managed to find the spaces we had trained for and scored both goals.”

Squad management, according to the coach, is key to sustaining performance during a marathon of games. “There are many clubs in Brazil that have an advantage right now because they play once a week. We’ve been on a run of decisive games every three days in three competitions, not to mention the fatigue we brought from the World Cup. We need, from time to time, a bit more time to train, because every three days… the next day the players do ice baths, massages; two days later they train for only 10 or 15 minutes; on the third day, they’re back on the field. So it’s tough. That’s why I change the team so we don’t lose anyone, I try to give everyone opportunities. It’s necessary to mix up the group, otherwise no one can handle it.”

Renato also highlighted Fluminense’s superiority in both matches, including the clash in Salvador. “Today, once again, Fluminense was superior to Bahia for the full 90 minutes. I had already liked my team’s performance in Salvador. In my opinion, we were better than Bahia there as well. We measured up against a great club in Brazilian football and eliminated them.”

In a self-critical tone, the coach returned to the theme of concentration as a decisive factor in knockout matches. “My group deserves congratulations for their concentration, for their focus during the 90 minutes. When I lose, I tell you that what I demand most is focus. When one or two aren’t focused, we pay the price. In many matches in the Brasileirão, Copa do Brasil, and Sudamericana, we conceded goals because not everyone was focused. Today, the team stayed focused the whole time, that’s what I demanded most these days — and you saw the result.”

Finally, even while avoiding singling out players for praise, Renato made an exception to exalt the captain. “I never like to talk about anyone individually. But it gives me pleasure to watch Thiago play. He was a monster again, played incredibly well, he’s a leader. When I say he still deserves to play in a World Cup, I don’t say it for nothing. Today he gave another football masterclass.”

With a spot secured among the top four in the Copa do Brasil, Fluminense remains alive on three fronts and reinforces Renato’s conviction in the combination of tactical work, responsible rotation, and a competitive mentality. The night at Maracanã confirmed a well-adjusted, intense, and above all, focused team — with Thiago Silva’s experience as a guiding light on the field.

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