Author: Vishwajit Sawant
In a press conference after Corinthians’ 1-1 draw with Fortaleza on Tuesday, coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo was satisfied with his team’s performance and remained confident of their chances of reaching the South American final. Despite facing discontent from the fans, Luxemburgo defended his team’s efforts.
Luxemburgo attributed the goal conceded to a mere “coincidence of a set-piece” and praised Corinthians’ ball possession and ability to decide the game. He highlighted key players, such as Renato, who had the potential to make decisive plays.
Although the mood was celebratory when the Corinthians bus arrived at the stadium, the team’s performance on the pitch was poor, with Fortaleza dominating most of the game. Luxemburgo, however, emphasized Corinthians’ historic resilience, saying: “It’s Corinthians! Corinthians is very strong“. He remained hopeful about the team’s chances in the second leg of the semi-final.
When asked about the team’s performance, Luxemburgo preferred to acknowledge the strength of the opposition and asked the fans for patience. He believes that Corinthians came closer to victory than defeat, pointing to the chances missed by both teams.
Corinthians will face Fortaleza again in the second leg next Tuesday, and Luxemburgo is confident that her team can secure a place in the South American final. Before that, the team has a derby against São Paulo on Saturday.