Vasco boss picks favourite to replace Coutinho, fans left worried | OneFootball

Vasco will have to deal with the absence of its main player in the “decisive” match against Bahia on Sunday (23). With Philippe Coutinho suspended, coach Fernando Diniz needs to rebuild the midfield. The favorite to take the spot is Matheus França, a choice that divides opinions.

+ In addition to the defeat, Vasco loses a starter for the next match

The end of the streak and the turn of the questioned player

The suspension ends Coutinho’s longest streak (23 consecutive games). To replace him, Matheus França appears as the first option. The player, who arrived in the last transfer window, is the most frequently used immediate substitute by Diniz, having come on in 13 matches, almost always in place of the number 10.

The problem is his performance. França is still searching for his first goal involvement (goal or assist) in a Vasco shirt. He came on during the defeat to Grêmio, but was unable to change the scenario, which creates doubts among the fans ahead of such a crucial match.

Other options on Diniz’s table

Although França is the favorite, Diniz has tactical alternatives. One is to move Nuno Moreira to a central role, taking advantage of his ability to link up play. Another possibility is to push Tchê Tchê forward into the creative role, bringing in a defensive midfielder like Hugo Moura or Thiago Mendes.

Vasco needs to pick up points to stop the bleeding after four consecutive defeats. Stuck in 12th place with 42 points, the team sees the relegation zone getting closer and needs whoever replaces Coutinho—no matter who it is—to deliver immediately.

Matheus França may get a chance in the starting lineup – Photo: Matheus Lima/Vasco

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