Author: Barkha Roy
In a recent Brasileirão match, Vasco da Gama drew goalless with São Paulo at São Januário. After the match, coach Ramón Diaz spoke at a press conference, asking the fans for their support and praising the team’s performance, the result of the match and the formidable opponent. Diaz said that Vasco could compete with any Brazilian team today.
Diaz acknowledged the challenges posed by São Paulo, the reigning Copa do Brasil champions, and highlighted the difficulty of winning this competition. He reminded the fans that, just 11 games ago, Vasco were facing relegation and were now competing with the best teams in Brazil.
“We need to play together. The most important thing is to accumulate points“, Diaz emphasized. He noted that although São Paulo had a penalty opportunity, Vasco also had chances to score. Diaz emphasized the importance of the fans’ continued support and staying positive despite the desire to win.
Regarding the fans’ pressure for better results, Diaz expressed his understanding and praised São Paulo’s quality. He remained confident that Vasco will avoid relegation, but asked for the fans’ help to achieve that goal.
Diaz also praised the dedication of all the players, including those who weren’t playing much. He singled out right-back Paulo Henrique, who put in an impressive performance against São Paulo. He stressed that all the squad members were competing with determination and giving their all for the club.
Regarding Paulinho’s substitution due to injury before the game, Díaz revealed that the player was not at full fitness. Despite this, he praised Paulinho’s commitment and revealed that the player had received a yellow card, making him unavailable for the next match against Fortaleza.
Diaz believed that Vasco deserved to win the game, despite the draw, and praised the squad’s intelligence and ability to create chances against a strong São Paulo side.
In the next round of the Brasileirão, Vasco will face Fortaleza after an 11-day break due to FIFA’s international calendar. Vasco temporarily moved out of the relegation zone with a draw against São Paulo, but their position still depends on the performance of other teams, especially Santos.