The Tricolor, who drew in the classic against Corinthians this past Sunday, are preparing to face Flamengo next Thursday: the tournament's semi-final.
São Paulo coach Rogério Ceni used risky strategies in the last classic, with reserves on the field and improvisation on the pitch. defender Luizão, who played as a left-back.
Ceni had planned to leave the starters more rested for Thursday's game against Flamengo, playing in the seminal Brazil's Cup.
But, despite being risky and daring, this strategy by the former goalkeeper of tricolor, everything seems to have worked as planned and now the starting team will enter the field with more confidence and rested.
However, there is still the big challenge of beating Flamengo by at least two goals to get to penalties or three goals or more to go to the final.
The semi-final game of the Copa do Brasil will take place at Maracanã, which already reinforces the pressure against the tricolor, as the stadium will be full of rival fans putting even more pressure on.
Tricolor's chances against Flamengo
Despite the pressure being great, in the last two games, São Paulo managed to increase the team's confidence, which could be decisive for a championship match.
The week was one of those times when it went well: in the last Thursday, the tricolor advanced to the South American final, enjoying enviable support from the fans; on Sunday, they drew in the classic against Corinthians with only reserves.
Thus, the confidence of the team and the fans increased a lot. Previously, if Tricolor won 3-1, it would still be seen as an almost lost challenge, but now everything has changed with the team's new mood.
Rogério Ceni stated: “It has to be a perfect match, and, even perfect, you don't have a guarantee that you will leave. But you have the opportunity, so let's not throw that opportunity away. We have 90 more minutes.”
“If I don't show that it's possible, how will they believe it? I know it's difficult, the best team, no problem. But I won't cower. We have to do our best. Putting full force against Corinthians would have been the biggest mistake.”
On Wednesday, the technician Rogerio Ceni he will have almost all the starters available, he just won't be able to have Gabriel Neves who suffered a knee injury and will be out of the field for more than a month.
The São Paulo fans and team, strengthened, will come out in force in Thursday's semi-final, a game that promises a lot of excitement for the fans.