Crespo shakes up São Paulo with bold new vision | OneFootball

Hernán Crespo has wasted little time shaping São Paulo in his second spell, with the Argentine coach using the break in the Brasileiro calendar to stamp his ideas on a side still searching for stability, according to UOL.

Crespo inherits a squad left in 14th place after Luís Zubeldía’s departure, following a disappointing home loss to Vasco that pushed São Paulo further into mid-table obscurity. The returning coach recognized the urgency of the club’s situation and made clear in his introductory remarks, “The urgency is the Brasileirão. It’s about competing and winning points to stay calm. Then, in the cups—it’s knockout football and anything can happen. Now, dream? I came here to win. Will we be able to? We’ll see. We start by competing well, winning games, and building an opportunity to win. But today, the reality is to go game by game, calmly.”

With his first test against Flamengo looming, Crespo has focused training on tactical flexibility and competitive edge. There’s been a clear emphasis on working in tighter spaces and replicating the intense pressing style seen from São Paulo’s upcoming opponents. His early sessions have also featured experiments with a three-man backline—a nod to systems used during his previous coaching stints and potentially a response to the tactical ideas left by Zubeldía.

Crespo is also closely evaluating squad depth, hoping for boosts from key players nearing a return from injury. Attacker Lucas Moura and winger Ferreirinha have progressed in their respective recoveries—Lucas working back from a right knee issue, and Ferreirinha from a plantar fascia injury in his left foot—and have recently resumed grass training. Their imminent availability could offer Crespo new options in attack at a critical juncture of the campaign.

The coach has insisted he won’t be boxed in by stylistic labels, telling the media, “Is it necessary to be pragmatic and not play beautifully? I don’t know. Does pragmatic football guarantee points and playing beautifully doesn’t? I disagree. We want to play well and that means the players understanding what the game needs. Sometimes the opponent will be better than us and we have to accept it.”

Some players on the fringes of the squad could also see opportunities under the new regime, with left back Wendell among those hoping for more consistent involvement.

Crespo’s immediate task is clear: steady São Paulo in the league and establish a platform for improvement before knockout competitions return to the calendar. The focus, for now, is on efficiency and clarity, but there are already early signs—through tactical adjustments, player reintegration, and the manager’s candid messaging—that São Paulo’s direction is changing.

(Source: UOL)

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