Zubeldía praises Castillo after first start: “Debut and a goal, great news”

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·22 marzo 2026

Zubeldía praises Castillo after first start: “Debut and a goal, great news”

Coach Luis Zubeldía praised the performance of forward Rodrigo Castillo after Fluminense’s 1-0 victory over Atlético-MG at Maracanã. The striker scored the only goal of the match in his first opportunity as a starter.

The coach highlighted the importance of having different characteristics in the offensive sector and valued the player’s performance, especially for the immediate impact.

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— It’s true that there may be a difference in characteristics, but that’s what we’re looking for. Debuting as a starter and scoring a goal is great news. Winning thanks to a goal from a number 9 is good news — he said.

Zubeldía also explained the decision to start the match with Castillo, citing John Kennedy’s physical fatigue and the context of the match.

— Today we felt it was Castillo’s moment because of the context and because John was coming off significant physical fatigue — he added.

In addition to the goal, the coach highlighted the striker’s contribution in other aspects of the game, such as set pieces.

— Castillo was also important in set-piece situations — he concluded.

With this strong performance, the striker gains confidence and establishes himself as another option for Fluminense’s offensive sector for the rest of the season.

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