Jair Ventura recalls 2018 runner-up finish and hails Memphis Depay | OneFootball

Corinthians' 2025 Copa do Brasil triumph has revived memories of 2018, when Jair Ventura led the club to the final.

"Corinthians fans embraced me. Everywhere I go people shout 'vai, Corinthians'. You know about our Pedrinho goal, it was absurd. It was the first year of VAR. In the end I left with a silver medal and they were champions," he told UOL.

"It had nothing to do with my story, it was a very balanced game. Vasco were very good too. Two extremely decisive players, Yuri Alberto and Memphis Depay. If you have a guy on three million, he will not miss. There, Memphis settled it. Big players appear and decide in big moments."

As 2017 Brazilian champions, Corinthians entered the 2018 Copa do Brasil in the last 16. Fábio Carille beat Vitória 3-1 on aggregate, then Osmar Loss saw off Chapecoense with two 1-0 wins. Ventura took over for a semi-final against favourites Flamengo, a 0-0 at the Maracanã followed by a 2-1 victory at the Neo Química Arena.

Cruzeiro won the final 3-1 on aggregate, the decider at the Neo Química Arena notable for a Pedrinho opener ruled out after a VAR check. Ventura’s three-month stint totalled 19 games, with four wins, six draws and nine defeats, before Carille returned for 2019. In 2025, Corinthians beat Novorizontino, Palmeiras, Athletico-PR and Cruzeiro en route to overcoming Vasco in the final.

Source: Meu Timao