Vanderlei Luxemburgo’s Unprecedented Feat: Corinthians’ Quest for Third Consecutive Victory and Copa do Brasil Semifinals

The last few days have been positive for Vanderlei Luxemburgo at Corinthians. The coach scored a sequence of two victories and gained an extra gas after being on the “tightrope” in office.

But now he will need an unprecedented feat to keep moving and manage to classify Timão to the semifinals of the Copa do Brasil: the third victory in a row. It’s something that hasn’t happened this coach’s passage through Timão. The game against América-MG is on Saturday, at 4:30 pm, in Itaquera.

See how the interviews with Luxemburgo and Felipe Augusto went after Corinthians won over Universitario

Last Tuesday, Corinthians beat Universitario, from Peru, by 1-0, with a goal by Felipe Augusto, in the first leg of the playoffs of the round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana, at the Neo Química Arena, days after also beat Atlético-MG, for the Brazilian Championship, in Belo Horizonte.

Fruit, according to him, of a concentration similar to tomato extract (!). The commander has been sleeping a few nights at the club’s training center.

— I talk a lot with the board, I’m more concentrated than tomato paste. Always talking about Corinthians, formatting the squad… It’s not easy to put these kids on (…) Our job is to give results at the moment, but, with experience, open up a range of options (…) I sleep in the CT when the training is in the morning so I can start earlier and I have had support from the board – he summarized.

1 of 1 Luxembourg in Corinthians vs Universitario — Photo: Marcos Ribolli Luxembourg in Corinthians vs Universitario — Photo: Marcos Ribolli

The moment of less pressure and more confidence arrives for Luxemburgo with the merits of the coach’s own conviction with regard to team planning: he spared his main players of the Sudamericana again to preserve them for Saturday’s game. Timão needs to reverse the 1-0 score against América-MG, at Neo Química Arena, to advance.

Before the victory over Galo, Luxa was under a lot of pressure. Something that he considers normal in Brazilian football, always with “discussions” about possible coach falls or squad changes. For him, the job is being well done.

— I have a contract until the end of the year, I want to seek a position at Corinthians in the Brasileirão. He didn’t qualify for the Libertadores, but he’s going to look for a mix with youngsters in the Sudamericana and the Copa do Brasil is open, we’re in a position to pass. I don’t work for myself, I’m paid to do good things for Corinthians. Basis, market. We decided to hire Rojas, it was a general analysis, profile, how it fits. Qualified cast. No radical changes. Work is being done. I am satisfied. Not as a result, but with this look at some of the things that are happening. We are used to doing. We know that discussions will always exist – he summarized.

With the boys in the continental competition, Corinthians walked well. It had already been like this in the game against Liverpool, from Uruguay, when, already eliminated from the Libertadores, Timão needed a draw to play in the Sudamericana and won. The tournament is not a priority for Luxemburgo and, therefore, will continue to be played with reserves and boys by decision of the coaching staff.

The decision to use reserves at Sula takes the pressure off the boys and alleviates the atmosphere of pressure that the club experienced in June. The obligation for good results ends up falling on top of more experienced players and the tournament ends up being used as a laboratory. Point to technician.

The board has no intention of meddling in the coach’s decisions, but has, at this moment, objectives aligned and shared with the commander: he wants to reach the Copa do Brasil final again and return to Libertadores via Brasileirão for guarantee.

Therefore, achieving the unprecedented feat of three victories and passing through América-MG is essential for Luxemburgo to keep the project firm.

2023-07-12 11:00:30
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