Corinthians secured their place in the next round of the Conmebol Libertadores with a nail-biting 3-2 victory over Universidad Central of Venezuela on Wednesday. The thrilling encounter at Neo Química Arena drew over 44,000 fans, marking the 25th consecutive home match with more than 40,000 spectators. Yet, the joy of advancing was overshadowed by chants from frustrated fans calling for improved performances.
The home team clinched the match thanks to a late goal from Yuri Alberto, which sent the crowd roaring, but their overall display left much to be desired. Despite facing a technically inferior side, Corinthians struggled and came close to what many would describe as the greatest embarrassment in the club's history, as Careca commented. "O Corinthians flertou com o maior vexame da história," he remarked, addressing the team's wavering standards.
After the match, players made their way to the supporters at the North end of the stadium, where instead of the usual celebratory songs, the atmosphere turned confrontational. Fans sang, "Vamos jogar bola, ô, ô, ô, ô" and “não é mole, não, tem que ser homem para jogar no Coringão,” expressing their discontent with the team's lackluster performance.
Despite the protests, head coach Ramón Díaz chose to adopt a positive tone post-game, expressing his pride as the team's coach. "É um orgulho como treinador, a torcida tem que estar orgulhosa, todos estamos felizes porque estamos em um bom caminho," he stated, highlighting their advancement but acknowledging the need to improve defensively.
Díaz noted the difficulties his team faced throughout the match, stating, "Fomos muito dinâmicos, muito verticais, eu gosto, mas temos que fazer a criação, estivemos imprecisos." He expressed the responsibility of balancing their attacking style with defensive solidity, stating, "Mas temos que estar atentos, trabalhar, ser muito inteligentes quando tem que defender."
The Corinthians manager emphasized they hadn't made any defensive transfers and reinforced the commitment to work with the current squad he believes has great potential. "Temos cinco zagueiros. Por que temos que gastar dinheiro em um zagueiro quando se tem cinco?" he argued, defending his team's structure.
Looking forward, Corinthians will face Mirassol on Sunday for the quarterfinals of the Campeonato Paulista before heading to Guayaquil to take on Barcelona for their next Libertadores challenge. Díaz is aware of the challenges ahead, advising his players to channel the energy from their passionate supporters. “A pressão existe. Protestos da torcida e correções são parte do jogo,” he noted, reaffirming the need for resilience and improvement as they continue their campaign.
Overall, the match against Universidad Central served as both a moment of celebration and stern warning for Corinthians. While they successfully progressed to the next round, the call for improvement from players and fans indicates the pressures and expectations surrounding this storied club. Every game is not only about winning but also about how the team embodies the spirit of Corinthians.
With each match, Corinthians will aim to strike the right balance between taking calculated risks offensively and ensuring they do not waver defensively. Fans will be eager to see if these adjustments can transform their fortunes as they continue their quest for Libertadores glory.