THE OBJECTIVE
“Essentially, it’s similar to what we experienced at times last year. For me, it’s not just about playing the ball; it’s about protecting our players from attacks. I get that we want to score, but when the goalkeeper is being treated that way, it becomes challenging. Losing because of a goal like that is tough. It’s hard to maintain strength when you’re trying to push for the ball, and sometimes you just can’t reach it. We need to be more robust in those situations. Moreover, we need to apply the same mentality when defending. We’re not changing the rules; we simply have to adjust to them.”
WE WERE EXCITING
“We played with more aggression than last year. We were more dynamic, sprinting more and showing greater bravery. Throughout the match, we embraced one-on-one challenges and maintained a high press. On the ball, our quality shone through. Despite the noise from the crowd, we kept playing our style. We lost fewer possessions during the build-up compared to last year, where we had significant struggles. Additionally, those small elements we discussed at the start of this season, with players like [Matheus] Cunha and Bryan [Mbeumo] able to energize the stadium, have been vital. Overall, I believe the key takeaway is that we were not boring.”
