Author: Barkha Roy
Santos midfielder Jean Lucas, a key player in the team’s fight against relegation in the Brazilian Championship, revealed on Monday that he had a private conversation with newly promoted coach Marcelo Fernandes. The conversation clarified the player’s preferred position in the team.
In an interview with SporTV’s “Boleiragem” program, Jean Lucas gave details of the conversation he had with coach Marcelo Fernandes, who recently took over at Santos. He revealed that the coach called him into his office as soon as he took over to ask him about his preferred playing position.
“Marcelo called me into his office and said he wanted to talk to me. I thought he was going to scold me and I thought: ‘I’ve done something wrong’ (laughs). But he asked me where I wanted to play, where I felt comfortable. He told me: ‘It doesn’t matter how I set up the team; I want to know where you want to play. So he said: ‘You’re going to play here, covering this area’“, explained Jean Lucas.
The midfielder also spoke about his daily interactions with Marcelo Fernandes at Santos.
“He’s a welcoming guy, but if he needs to criticize, he will; if he needs to praise, he will. He always emphasizes that ‘less is more’. In the situation we are currently facing, less is more. Those who aren’t playing need to support the team. We’re all in the same boat to get Santos out of this situation“, added Jean Lucas.
With a strong connection to Santos, Jean Lucas explained why he chose to play at Vila Belmiro.
“I chose Santos because it became the team of my heart. My first spell here was very good, albeit short, but I felt a strong connection with the club and the fans. It was a decision I made with a lot of confidence” he said.
Santos fans who hold Jean Lucas in high regard can rest easy knowing that team officials are working closely with the player to take advantage of his strengths and maximize his contributions. With Marcelo Fernandes at the helm, Santos are striving to secure their position in the top flight of Brazilian soccer and overcome the threat of relegation. After 26 games, the club is in 14th place, three points off the relegation zone.