Corinthians boss on poor first half and issues after the FIFA break

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Central do Timão

·05 de dezembro de 2025

Corinthians boss on poor first half and issues after the FIFA break

By Vinícios Cotrim | Central do Timão Editorial Team

Corinthians defeated São Paulo in a comeback at the Neo Química Arena, securing another final in the Women's Paulistão. Coach Lucas Piccinato spoke about the Brabas' underwhelming first half and the issue of having matches right after the FIFA date, affecting players from both teams.

“The opponent adopted a defensive stance that they hadn't used in previous encounters, at least not in this second half of the year. They started with a line of four, delayed jumps on our wings, and we technically couldn't manage. I think not even technically, it's a very quick play, an event in the game, the penalty occurs within three minutes, and then an advantage you have is lost, you lose the advantage and psychologically you have to get back into the game,” the coach began.

Vídeos OneFootball

Photo: Reproduction/Corinthians TV

“I think we couldn't turn around that mental aspect in the first half, it took a long time. In the second half, we made an adjustment, besides obviously changing some players, we also adjusted the system, switching to a 4-3-3, and I think we managed to equalize more against São Paulo and gain a bit more advantage, and I think we had an excellent second half. I think the context of the game was a bit like this, happy for the victory, happy for another final here, but obviously, we know that to be champions, we will have to beat a great opponent on the other side,” he added.

Corinthians had six players called up, five Brazilians and one Venezuelan, who played last Tuesday (3). Piccinato spoke about this imbalance in the teams due to the call-ups, as São Paulo also faced this issue.

“I think the context of the game also included, obviously, a FIFA date overlapping with the match and some difficult decisions to make regarding who starts. The players arrived, the Brazilian National Team players arrived yesterday at five in the afternoon, left at dawn, meaning they barely slept from one night to the next. Day arrived today at four in the morning, so it's a game scheduled post-FIFA date, which even being two days after the last game, the athletes played on the night of the second, so we also had to make a decision,” he commented.

“The training week for the athletes who were here was very good, a lot of confidence also that the group, regardless of not having these outstanding athletes, who are the National Team players today, could sustain. So I think the context of the game has several nuances. We regret that at the semifinal moment, athletes from two teams in the Paulista Championship played the minutes they did for the National Team, but obviously, the National Team is looking at their side, and we will look at ours. And we are on this side today, regretting having such high minutes, so close, it complicates the return,” the coach concluded.

Now, the Brabas will face Palmeiras in two matches in the state final – deciding the second match at home due to having a better campaign. The dates and times will still be set by the Paulista Football Federation (FPF).

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