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Even guaranteed in the round of 16, Santos entered the field on the last day of the Libertadores group stage with maximum strength. He lost, at Vila Belmiro, but the insistence of several forwards awarded Peixe a 2-1 victory over Defensa y Justicia and pleased coach Cuca.
This Tuesday’s result left Santos with 16 points in Group G of the Libertadores, isolated in the lead and with more than double the points of the second classified (Delfín, with seven). Cuca appreciated the Peixe na Libertadores campaign.
– I am realistic, but I am very happy with the campaign. We played against the Ecuadorian, Paraguayan and Argentine champions very well and very well trained. Let’s go step by step (…). We will be first or second best of all the teams (of the Libertadores). Something to celebrate, period. Then comes the knockout, with the advantage of deciding at home – said the coach at a press conference.
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Cuca greets Crespo before a match against Defensa – Photo: Staff Images / CONMEBOL
Despite being already guaranteed in the knockout, Cuca brought maximum strength to the field on Tuesday and explained why. The coach even mentioned the physical problem that Pará felt, who left in the second half with pain in his right thigh.
– I came with everyone I had, there were still people in the bank. Many absences, injured players. We haven’t complained, but we played on Saturday and Defense hasn’t played in a long time. They were rested, we weren’t. We have exhausted important players. They have outdone themselves, we risk injuring ourselves. We lost to Pará, I don’t know the degree of the injury. Being the first or second (of the group) was very important. And we did – we completed.
After leaving Pará, even Cuca was not satisfied with the tie: he placed striker Marcos Leonardo in the place of the right side.
– We had a draw, we could have placed a defender at the exit of Pará, but we are looking for victory with two central forwards, Lucas Lourenço and Soteldo. They gave us the victory after giving us confidence even in a difficult situation.
Best moments: Santos 2 x 1 Defense and Justice for Libertadores
The forward was even close to leaving Vila Belmiro and not even going out onto the field against Defense and Justice, as coach Cuca himself had predicted after the victory over Coritiba. However, without an agreement with Al Hilal, Soteldo stayed.
– I talk to him (Soteldo) every day, every hour. He is 23 years old. It was a mistake to say it was the last game, but it was a mistake they passed me. If so, I always want to make mistakes. They gave me that 99% chance, but 99% is not 100%. If you stay, we’ll find a way to pay off the debts, pay them off prohibitions (debts that make the club unable to hire) and strengthen the squad because we need – finished.
