Author: Vishwajit Sawant
In a recent match against
Defensa y Justicia in the Copa Sudamericana, Botafogo drew 1-1.
which left some of the 25,000 fans present at the Nilton Santos Stadium expressing their dissatisfaction with the team’s performance and the final result. Bruno Lage, Botafogo’s coach, expressed his belief that the result did not accurately reflect the team’s efforts on the pitch.
He said: “I thought it was a very unfair result for what the players did on the pitch. I think we were far superior to our opponents. We had several opportunities to get a better result.“
In their Copa Sudamericana campaign, Botafogo have opted to field a few reserves in every game, reserving their main players for the Brazilian Championship. Even in the match against Defensa y Justicia, the team followed this strategy, despite maintaining the stance that no tournament is a priority. In an interview after the match, Bruno Lage defended his choices for the squad rotation.
“I don’t like to define a starting XI, because since I arrived I haven’t had the opportunity to repeat the team,” he explained, citing the unavailability of players due to injuries.
Lage acknowledged the challenges posed by injuries, mentioning players like Cuesta, Adryelson, Marçal and Tiquinho, who were unavailable for selection on different occasions. The team now face the prospect of securing a win against Defensa y Justicia in Buenos Aires to progress, after drawing at home. Another draw would lead to a penalty shoot-out.
Turning their attention to the next Brasileirão, Botafogo face Bahia on Sunday. As the team navigates national and international competitions, its line-up choices and performances will be closely watched by fans and critics alike.