Palmeiras loses chance and frees Luxembourg – 09/03/2023 – PVC

Abel Ferreira made his first substitutions in the 32nd minute of the second half, after Vanderlei Luxemburgo had made five. There is an eternal question among Corinthian fans: whether Luxemburgo improves the team with the changes or corrects what he did wrong before.

There are exaggerations in the criticism of the Corinthians coach. He miscommunicated at the press conference after qualifying for the Copa Sudamericana against Estudiantes. But he shouldn’t be ashamed to classify himself, as he wondered.

There are problems that are not Luxembourg’s, but the club’s. If he does not win the Sudamericana, he will complete four seasons without titles, for the first time in 36 years, the longest trophy drought since he left the queue in 1977.

With all the problems, Corinthians had the best chance of the first half. Pass from Giuliano to Yuri Alberto to pass to Maycon, dry shot, right footed save by Wéverton.

A year ago, the classification in the round of 16 of the Libertadores, against Boca Juniors, did not have six balls on the crossbar, but Corinthians escaped the suffocation and advanced on penalties. The only difference was coach Vítor Pereira instead of Luxemburgo.

It is clear that Luxemburgo is not a shadow of what he was as a coach. Nor could it be at the age of 71, the oldest Corinthians coach. There is something to celebrate. Not just the draw that prevented Palmeiras from approaching Botafogo. Especially, the chance to be champion of the South American Championship. Unlikely and possible.

Palmeiras missed the chance to get closer to Botafogo, reduce the distance, from fourteen points in the 15th round, to eight in the 22nd. Failed. The current difference is ten points, 51 for Botafogo, 41 for Palmeiras.

The difficulty of reaching Botafogo is equal to the certainty that one can lose the Libertadores in a bad moment, a mistake by a defender, a goal missed by an attacker. Palmeiras needed more momentum in Itaquera, Corinthians did not.

Because it’s fair to note the mistakes that make Corinthians fight against relegation and for a continental trophy.

Misconceptions like having four technicians sitting on the bench in the first four rounds. Starting the Brazilian with seven starters over 31 years old, rejuvenating the team, discovering Moscardo, putting Murillo in place of Balbuena in the defense and losing five players: Roger Guedes, Murillo, Ádson, Du Queiroz and Balbuena himself.

Some, like the Paraguayan defender, released by the coach’s own choice.

Brazil insists on taking all its technicians to the dock. In the last four years, Corinthians was worse than Luxemburgo. The coach was champion of São Paulo in 2020, Parque São Jorge has not placed any trophy in its gallery since 2019.

Palmeiras did not go well either, although specifically on Sunday, for not having managed to beat their biggest rival, with problems and criticism after qualifying in the Copa Sudamericana.

With the opportunity to get closer to Botafogo and put pressure on the leader of the Brazilian Championship, he didn’t lose the sequence of six games without losing the Derbi and he also didn’t manage to put himself in a position where he could dream for the title.

Between the expectations at Parque Antarctica and the risk in Luxembourg, it is fair to say that it was 0-0 for Corinthians.

BRUNO LAGE

The Brazilian’s leading coach lost his balance. In Portugal, it is said that it may not have the shell to withstand the pressure, sometimes irrational, from Brazil. Luís Castro left, in part, for this reason. As much as Lage created a disproportionate problem, he made a mistake, it shows that Brazil needs to better understand the defeats.

CALM AT THIS TIME

São Paulo will have plenty of time to prepare the formation with James Rodriguez, Lucas and Calleri in the starting lineup. There is resistance in the technical commission and the understanding that it will be necessary to match talent in the final of the Copa do Brasil, against Flamengo. James takes combativeness, lends talent.

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