Analysis: Coudet changes the scheme with the subsidiary, but starting mistakes cost defeat and 1st place | International

The situation was so comfortable that it allowed coach Eduardo Coudet to climb a team full of reserves on the shores of the Andes. Qualification came, however, under the bitter taste of a 2-1 loss and second place in Group E.

The negative result could even indicate the technician’s overconfidence when designing the strategy in the face of a vacancy. But the history of the party shows that this was not the case.

Even with only three starters in the starting formation, the team responded well, with collective action at least as equals in an away match for the Libertadores. The lack of aim in the attack “was expensive”, as Coudet said after the game.

Paradoxically, however, The defeat was due to more specific errors by the two athletes in the line-up who performed the most in 2020 What wasted goals. Cuesta and Musto made mistakes that compromised the team.

The midfielder, Coudet’s confidant, handed the ball to Zampedri after being pressured into midfield for the first goal. The defender tried to protect a ball near the baseline towards the end of the game. He fell to the ground and saw Puch sitting crossing the same Zampedri to mark the second, by bicycle.

Two mistakes that cost not only the result. The place was guaranteed even with a point of advantage for the third classified. But the team lost the opportunity to advance in first place with a victory that was even close to happening.

This Thursday, Coudet not only launched (more) an unprecedented lineup but changed team formation for the first time. 4-1-3-2 came out of the previous 40 games, went 4-2-3-1.

Musto and Nonato made the first line of the midfield. William Pottker, D’Alessandro and Peglow formed the crack of the socks, with Yuri Alberto in the attack reference.

And the team worked well that way. Musto kept backing up between the defenders to make the start of three. With two ends on the sides, the sides didn’t go up that far. Nonato and D’Ale, selected for the first time as a midfielder, gave the team the characteristic of valuing ball possession.

In the first 25 minutes, despite controlling the game, Inter also took scares. The team managed to close spaces in front of the area, but the Catholic found ways to take danger on the sides.

Inter had the ball and circulated it from side to side of the field with short approaches and touches. The attack lacked depth and aggressiveness to pierce lines and enter the area.

But Piñares’ penalty after a corner kick was a shortcut to goal. D’Alessandro converted and opened the scoring. There was not even time to enjoy.

In the next move, Musto was pushed into midfield and ended up unarmed. The ball was left to Zampedri to finish off and have a deflection in Víctor Cuesta to beat Marcelo Lomba.

The goal destabilized the team, but the second half came, which started slowly until América de Cali opened the scoring against Grêmio in the Arena. The path to leadership was clear, and Coudet sent players Edenílson, Marcos Guilherme and Thiago Galhardo onto the field.

“I made the decision that these were the players who were going to start, and we met the objective. It is very difficult to be competing in two competitions. We are being protagonists in both. He is the most outstanding of this group, who is making a great effort ( Coudet)

From the most cadenced style, Inter became aggressive and more direct. Yuri Alberto benefited from that and had two chances to score. In one, he stole the ball inside the area -a la Coudet-, dribbled the goalkeeper and saw the defense tackle over the line.

In another move, he took off at high speed, but lost time just in time to finish off a counterattack. When the second goal seemed a matter of persistence, Cuesta’s mistake in protecting the ball was fatal.

Even with the loss, Inter qualify for the Libertadores round of 16 as second place in Group E. Colorado will face their rival in a draw on Friday. The first game will take place between November 24 and 26, and the return game will take place between December 1 and 3.

But now Inter is focused on the direct confrontation with Flamengo for the leadership of Brasileirão, on Sunday, at 6.15 pm, in Beira-Rio, for the 18th match. The two teams have 34 points, but Colorado has an advantage in goal difference.