Author: Soorya G
Coach Dorival Júnior pointed to the Copa do Brasil summit clash against Flamengo as one of the reasons for São Paulo’s uneven performance in the
São Paulo in the defeat to Internacional (1:2)
on Wednesday. The match was played at Beira-Rio, in Porto Alegre, in the 23rd round of the Brazilian Championship. The experienced coach has had a difficult time at the helm of São Paulo since arriving in April, with the team failing to perform consistently.
São Paulo are in 12th place in Serie A of the Brazilian Championship, with seven wins, seven draws and eight defeats so far. With the exception of a run of four consecutive wins in May, including one in the Copa and another in the Copa Sudamericana, São Paulo have failed to win more than two games in a row this season.
According to the coach, “turning the page” is impossible at the moment. It would be impossible to demand more from the players than what they’ve shown,” he said. All the players, from São Paulo and Flamengo, are thinking a lot about the next two games. Everyone wants this moment to come soon.
Dorival believes that São Paulo’s approach to the first leg of the final, which will be played at the Maracanã on Sunday, will be completely different.
“Sunday’s game will be different, at a different time. Flamengo have a history of success, but São Paulo need the title, and that’s what we’re working towards. We all understand the historic importance of this final.”
The coach pointed out a problem he wants to solve in the team for the match against the Rio de Janeiro club. “We didn’t perform well in the first 15 minutes of each half against Inter. We should have been better organized, managed possession and attacked more. This was not done, and Inter pressed, won the ball and created chances until they managed to turn the game around.“