São Paulo director: Palmeiras and Flamengo are ahead right now | OneFootball

The football director of São Paulo, Carlos Belmonte, agreed with a recent statement by coach Hernán Crespo. In a press conference after the 2-2 draw with Flamengo, the coach said that the Rio team, along with Palmeiras, are in a “different dimension from Tricolor.”

“Against facts, there are no arguments. Today, Palmeiras and Flamengo are ahead from a financial standpoint. They have more robust squads, more investment possibilities. It is up to us to try to reach where Palmeiras and Flamengo are today, and where we have been. Many times, Palmeiras and Flamengo mirrored São Paulo to get where they are. Now it's our turn to mirror what they do,” said Belmonte last Tuesday after the Paulistão draw.

While Palmeiras and Flamengo have become accustomed to winning the main titles on the calendar in recent years, São Paulo had to settle for the 2021 Paulistão and the 2023 Copa do Brasil. The coach understands that patience is needed to regain the same level as the rivals – which was also defended by Belmonte.

“We need to achieve results, make better sales, more resources, extend and reduce debt, to have more investment possibilities. This work is being done. We believe it is indeed possible because, after all, we are São Paulo, we are great and capable of doing this. I believe this will happen gradually, but at the moment there is no way to disagree with what Crespo is saying,” he added.

Belmonte explains change in planning

Belmonte also took the opportunity to explain a change made in São Paulo's 2026 pre-season planning. With the calendar changes promoted by the CBF, the start of the Campeonato Paulista will coincide with the Brasileirão.

As a result, São Paulo took advantage of the FIFA date to advance medical exams and clinical evaluations, gaining valuable time for the 2026 pre-season. The football director then assessed that the club will need to adapt to the new calendar.

“The Paulista and the Brasileiro will end up occurring simultaneously. We will have to adapt, as we already do with the South American or the Libertadores. It's new for us, we have to understand, start strong in the Paulista, it's a shorter pre-season again. That's why we are even conducting physical and medical exams for the pre-season now, to gain two days and not have to do it when we return. It's game by game again. Try to have a large squad, youth from the base, a squad of 35, 36, 37 athletes, to withstand the long season,” he emphasized.

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