Seabra explains reserves against Santos and praises the strength of Coritiba’s squad

For the match at Vila Belmiro, the coach chose to preserve players who had high quality, such as defender Maicon, left-back Bruno Melo, midfielder Vini Paulista and striker Pedro Rocha. Tiago Cóser, Felipe Jonatan, Thiago Santos and Renato Marques took their place, and the team’s level was maintained.

Seabra explained that the decision is part of physical planning throughout the season. It is worth mentioning that Coritiba played against Atlético-MG on Sunday (19), in Curitiba, and, next Sunday (26), will face Grêmio, in Porto Alegre.

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“We have to be careful and judicious due to the wear and tear that occurs throughout the season. Pedro had very high minutes and wear and tear. Maicon also showed a lot of wear at the end of the game against Atlético-MG. At the same time, we sought to create opportunities for some situations that could give us more versatility”, he explained.

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Among the players with the most minutes this season are Pedro Rocha, Bruno Melo and Maicon, all appearing in the top-5 of the squad. Vini Paulista, even with a lower score, is one of the most used, with 20 matches played, tied with Josué as the athlete who entered the field the most.

In addition to the physical issue, the coach highlighted the importance of having versatile players and a competitive group, with open competitions for position.

“Thiago Santos can act as a midfielder, but he can also play as a defender, forming a line of five. So it’s always interesting to have this trick up your sleeve without having to make a substitution, if any adjustments are necessary. This shows that the group has been working well: the players are serving as an impetus for each other’s development”, he concluded.

Tinga comments on position dispute

Another highlight for Coritiba in the match was right-back Tinga, who had the task of marking Neymar throughout the game in Vila Belmiro. Chosen as a starter, the player valued the internal competitiveness of the Alviverde squad amid the intense sequence of matches.

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“It’s a tiring sequence, but at the same time, it’s important and positive, because by playing directly you gain more rhythm and awareness of the game. We’ve been preparing well, so it’s been very positive. There are other players who can help, JP (Chermont) can return. We have a very strong group and, regardless of who’s playing, everyone gets the job done”, he stated.

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With a goalless draw in the first leg, Coritiba needs a simple victory at Couto Pereira to guarantee qualification to the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil, a stage the club has not reached for over a decade. The last time Coxa advanced further in the competition was in 2015, when they were eliminated by Grêmio in the round of 16.

The return game between Coritiba and Santos will be on May 13th (Wednesday), at 7:30 pm, at Couto Pereira.