Cuca sees Santos superior in classic and complains about the penalty given to Palmeiras: “He is not crying” | Saints

In the press conference after the classic, Cuca acknowledged that the start of the game was not ideal, but that later Santos “took charge of the game.”

– It took us about fifteen minutes to adapt, but then we took care of the match. We dominate, we create opportunities. We did the 1-0, but here comes the second half. Before the tie, we had three chances to score the second goal. These are clear goal situations. We conceded a corner kick to Palmeiras, then the penalty came – Cuca began.

The coach criticized the penalty after Lucas Veríssimo put his hand on the ball, scored with the help of the VAR (see the offer in the video below). In Cuca’s opinion, the play is “unfinished” and the referee’s decision “changed the game.” When the penalty was scored, Santos won 1-0.

– I am very careful in analyzing the offers so as not to make mistakes. I tried to change the direction of the ball or something but couldn’t find it. Then I asked Veríssimo if the ball hit him in the hand. He said he didn’t feel it. I looked three hundred times, it’s not conclusive. This is not crying. It is a penalty that José Claudio da Rocha Filho, who coincidentally was the same VAR who gave a penalty in another interpretive play (in the classic against Palmeiras in the first round). Nothing to speak of your honesty, but it’s a pretty tough coincidence for us. It changed the game.

More news from Santos:
+ Actions: view player notes
+ Santos loses three starters per game against Flamengo

After the penalty, Santos took his turn, but sought the equalizer thanks to a goal from Marinho. Cuca speaks of a “bitter taste” because her team did not win the classic.

– One by one, three more minutes the second ball arrives, and they do it again. We looked for the tie, we had more chances to turn the game around, we played the forward team not satisfied with the tie. We were better in most of the game, in general we were superior. That is why it is a bitter taste, despite having searched for the tie. But it is the satisfaction of seeing a team looking to the end. Unfortunately we couldn’t win. We ended up drawing a classic, which is not a demerit, but we could have won.

Now, Santos focuses all the attention on the Libertadores. On Wednesday, at 7.15 pm, Peixe faces Grêmio, in Porto Alegre, for the quarterfinals of the continental competition.

Forbidden exit of Lucas Veríssimo

– I will speak the correct Portuguese, without half a word. It is the sixth demand that Veríssimo has in these years, it has already been sold to Portugal, Ukraine, Russia, Arabia, but it never left here. He is a player who has seen time pass, with many promises that he will sell. What does the player’s head look like? We have to assess the delivery he has in the field, he is a benchmark. We are indebted to him, Santos FC. It is giving you a solution. The board approves its sale, but the Fiscal Council does not. Imagine playing against LDU, on game day the story came out. Human beings are emotional, like all of us. You have to take your hat off to Lucas Veríssimo. The year has to end, and Santos has to sell it in the best way and make new players. We have good loaned players, we will recover, we have trained players, in a short time we have Luan Peres, who will hardly stay. You can’t let December 31 come. We have to think about Santos today, otherwise it will get worse.

Match against Grêmio in Libertadores

– We arrived strong because we have a solid base of play. On Tuesday we lost to LDU, but it was not a game to lose. It was a game to have done two or three. We lost many goals, it created instability in the team. But in general we were better, so we have confidence, it is not a draw with Palmeiras that will take us out, especially because we played well.

– Soteldo does not improvise there, he plays like that many times, even in the national team. He is a versatile player, plays as a winger, indoors. Today it started on the side, who started on the inside was another player. Then with the variations he ended up playing in another sector. It is important to us for this versatility. We have Lucas Lourenço, we have used him, I am sure he will take off in football, he will be a great midfielder, but all in good time. We have Jean Mota, who is doing recovery work on him, dynamic, he trained hard yesterday. We have used the alternatives.

Kaio Jorge in the U-20 team?

– Kaio Jorge cannot go to the national team, he cannot. I always value the summons of the player. The last time he was summoned. I was without him. Now we have Flamengo and the return of the Libertadores. The U-20 team will play two games at the Farm, they must have the sensitivity of the caller.

– Para knows how to play in the hallway and inside. He creates good alternatives for the team, he has interaction, experience, we have strong leadership on the staff. We have to value these types of players.

– We had 37 points, winning we went to third place. We have Sunday, Monday and Tuesday to get the player back. We are not sure that giving the boys eight or nine days off will produce more or less. There are times when it is best to play, when you don’t have physical wear and tear, you are sufficiently trained, you have nothing to do with traveling, so you are ready to go. Luckily we didn’t lose anyone to injury, now the recovery comes until Wednesday.

– When you don’t win the classic, it’s not good. There is another classic, next year, but related to that championship. We will try with all our might to win the last one.

+ Click here and learn all about Santos