Hulk hails Atlético comeback, eyes Sul-Americana final: "Match of our lives" | OneFootball

Scoring one goal and providing two assists in Atlético’s comeback win over Sport, 4-2, this Saturday (08) at Ilha do Retiro, Hulk was the standout player of the match in the 33rd round of the Brazilian Championship. The striker came on in the second half, when Galo was trailing, and led the comeback that secured three points for Jorge Sampaoli’s team.

After the final whistle, the number 7 highlighted the importance of the result and looked ahead to the season’s final stretch, focusing on the Copa Sudamericana final on November 22, in Asunción, Paraguay:

“We knew how important this game was. Our goal is to get as many points as possible, so we can play without pressure. This year hasn’t been easy for us, always playing under pressure. Now we can focus on the final, which is going to be extremely important for us. Next, we play at home, against Fortaleza, with our fans, to put on a great match. Then we still face Red Bull Bragantino and after that comes the big game, the game of our year, of our lives. I can even say it’s the most important one for me here at Galo. A first-ever title for the team. Winning this Sudamericana is our dream,” said the striker.

Luck and leadership in the comeback

The goal that started the turnaround came from Hulk himself, with a free kick that benefited from a mistake by Sport’s goalkeeper Gabriel. The striker joked about the play and emphasized how important the goal was for restoring the team’s confidence on the field.

Enjoying a good spell this season, the striker also spoke about the atmosphere within the squad and Jorge Sampaoli’s role in the team’s improvement:

“I’m very happy to be playing freely again, relaxed, with the confidence I’ve always had. It’s always good when you’re feeling good. You can take care of yourself a lot, lower your body fat percentage, but still not feel light. Not just me, but our whole squad is working hard. Our goal is to build confidence and we’re in a very good moment. Sampaoli gives everyone a chance, now we have to make the most of it so we’re ready, at our best level,” he added.

Standings situation

With the win, Atlético reached 43 points, climbing to 10th place, still with a game in hand. Sport remains at the bottom, with only 17 points. Galo returns to the field on Wednesday (12), when they face Fortaleza at Arena MRV at 8:30 pm, in a match valid for the 34th round of the Brasileirão.

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