Crespo urges big changes at São Paulo, denies exit rumours | OneFootball

Coach Hernán Crespo campaigned for “profound changes” at São Paulo after his team suffered a crushing defeat this Thursday, 6-0 against Fluminense at Maracanã, in the 36th round of the Brazilian Championship.

After the humiliating loss in Rio de Janeiro, the Argentine manager analyzed the difficult situation in which Tricolor finds itself, but made it clear that he is not thinking about saying goodbye to the club, expressing his desire to be part of a necessary transformation.

“The idea is to keep planning for the future. I have to believe and trust, because I want the best for São Paulo. I think I can be part of the solution. I have things clear, on paper, and I have to trust that things will happen. It’s part of my life, I can’t explain why I have so much love for São Paulo, I don’t know, it’s just the way it is. I try to help,” said Crespo.

The day the board feels we can’t play, I’ll leave or maybe I’ll be fired from São Paulo for the second time. Then I’ll go out into the world and try to achieve as I always have in my life as a player and coach, to win on every continent. I think I’m the only person in the football world who has won on three different continents. I think I can be part of the solution. Are we going to take advantage of that? I don’t know, it doesn’t depend on me. Right now, the idea is to build,” he added.

One of the factors that could speed up São Paulo’s rebuilding process would be money, but the club is going through a severe financial crisis. Precisely because of this, there are doubts whether the board will be able to give coach Hernán Crespo the reinforcements he needs to fight for bigger goals next season.

“I came here with feeling. I have a lot of affection, a lot of feeling for São Paulo and its fans. It’s hard to speak to them, because they don’t deserve to go through these things, but it’s happening and I have to face it. I’ll say it again: if I thought about everything that could happen, I would have stayed at home. I knew all this could happen, but for me it’s the same, because I have a special affection for São Paulo. We know we have to change a lot and trust. We’ll see if that really happens, if the words they told me in June will be confirmed,” said Crespo.

“I have to trust and think about planning. Planning is just a piece of paper, but you have to do it. So, we’ll go day by day and see what we can do, but I think if there isn’t a very big change… I’ll be very happy if we take a step. To be as big as São Paulo, you need to take about 20 steps. It’s about understanding the problem and starting to walk, because we can’t go on like this. Trust, take part in the planning, let’s see if it will work,” he pointed out.

“São Paulo will always exist, maybe next year, when my contract ends, someone else will come in trying to do their best too. São Paulo is very big, I want to be part of that. We’re not going to take all 20 steps, I work with reality. If what’s happening is happening, it’s because [the club] deserves it. Now we have the last two games, try to finish eighth and hope for Cruzeiro and Fluminense,” Crespo concluded, referring to the possibility of still qualifying São Paulo for the Pre-Libertadores.

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