Leonardo Jardim highlights challenges and plans for the rest of the season | OneFootball

“It was our worst first half in the Brazilian Championship”

“It was our worst first half in the Brazilian Championship. Much due to the intensity and quality that São Paulo presented. Due to our lack of freshness, with only two days of recovery, and strategically we had difficulties. Matheus Henrique was very open on the flank. These factors led to a poor first half. In the second half, I think we were extremely competent. Despite the opponent having more volume, Kaiki had one, Matheus Pereira had a header, Gabriel had one. Three great saves by the opposing goalkeeper. I would say the result is fair because it's fair to those who score. But it was a great opponent, a much stronger, more organized team, and Crespo deserves congratulations.”

“Matheus Henrique was a bit open and left the midfield more exposed. We corrected this at halftime and minimized São Paulo's game a bit, and their intensity wasn't like in the first half. That's why it's a very important victory. We ended up making 4 points against São Paulo. Also, because of the break, it's important to leave with a victory, a spectacular week. Now we will rest to prepare for the rest of the season on Wednesday.”

“We knew it would be a second half with fewer games. In the first half, we had a month where we played 8, 9 games. It was extremely difficult. Now there are fewer games in a month, more recovery time. But it happens with all teams, everyone on equal footing. Some have already been eliminated from the Copa do Brasil, others eliminated from international Cups, others are not playing for anything in the Brazilian Championship. The most important thing is the most important, then think about what's next and successively.”

“In every team, there's the 'ugly duckling,' that player the coach likes but others don't. I think Wanderson, one of the players I brought in, I knew he would deliver something to the team that we didn't have, a player who drags, strategically fulfills what we intend. I am very satisfied with his performance during this period, a team player, who offensively doesn't have the creativity of others, but in terms of transition, helps us a lot. To free Kaiki on the flank, to free Gabriel, Kaio. About the injury, I believe it's not serious, a trauma, he will recover.”

“Christian took a hit in the last game, on his foot. His toe is swollen, he couldn't stand. He will need to stop, I think, for a week, to return to training.”

“Honestly, one half later I think both teams have evolved a lot. Both are to be congratulated. Regarding the 'turning point,' that day in São Paulo I decided that I had to build a team that could develop what I believe more in the game. Sometimes it's not about quality, but I tried to find other values, which identified more with the game I intended to implement. More than a turning point, it was thinking that I couldn't with players, even of quality, who identified more with the profile I intended.”

“Solutions don't bother me, not having solutions does. Having different solutions than we currently have can help. I've certainly said that the base of Cruzeiro for this season is with us. The players know that, with the performance they have developed, players don't come to solve problems, but solutions to allow different approaches. A different strategy. This can happen in games. But the base of the team is consolidated for the season.”

“Matheus's importance is great. He is a player who had an injury that stopped him and will always be a starting player, but he is a starter like Lucas, Christian, Romero, Eduardo. From the start or in the middle, they will be important. With the fatigue of the season, it will be even more necessary. Many times we play with 4 midfielders, so he is a player from that block of 16, 17, who are the ones who play the most.”

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