Coach Roger Machado tried to put “warm cloths” in the virtual press conference he gave, after the 1-0 defeat by Fluminense against Grêmio, when he was asked about the substitution he made removing Paulo Henrique Ganso and putting John Kennedy.
The coach was approached about the player’s supposed dissatisfaction when leaving the field, but he minimized it and asked not to create a controversy regarding the issue.
“I didn’t see anything wrong with Paulo’s departure. The athlete has full right not to feel comfortable when he doesn’t leave”, declared Roger, adding:
“We also need to stop being polemics when athletes leave substituted. The athlete does not like to leave, this is a fact, even more when he feels he is doing well on the field. And 90% of the athletes feel good on the field until the moment the coach decides for I didn’t see anything unusual when Paulo left. The athlete has every right not to feel comfortable on the way out. There’s nothing to comment about it. We’re not going to put something where it doesn’t exist.”
With the result, Fluminense was stagnated with 17 points in eighth place. Now the Tricolor becomes the key to the Cup liberators, where next Tuesday (20) receives the Cerro Porteño (PAR), in Maracanã (RJ), for the return game of the round of 16 of the Liberators cup.
For having won on the way, in Paraguay, by 2-0, the Tricolor carioca can even lose by 1-0, which guarantees a place in the quarterfinals of the competition.
In the Brazilian Championship, Fluminense returns to the field next Saturday (24), against Palmeiras, at Allianz Parque (SP).
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