Sampaoli praises Hulk and aims to get Atletico’s title to compensate for a difficult year

On the eve of the South American final, coach Jorge Sampaoli held a press conference to talk about Atletico’s decision against Lanus, at five in the evening (Brasilia time), on Saturday (22), in Asuncion, Paraguay. The coach talked about what he expects from striker Hulk in the confrontation, and acknowledged that the player is experiencing a state of instability in 2025, but he is slowly recovering.

“Regarding Hulk, I think he was hurt by the lack of stability in the team during the season. My team and I arrived recently and saw a player who, despite his age and strength, was underutilized,” he began.

“We talk to him a lot, we train with him and we try to get back what he does best, which is being closer to the goal. Transforming Hulk into a player closer to the goal is essential to have more scoring chances. If Hulk understands his ability, we will definitely have a better chance of winning the World Cup,” he went further and concluded his words immediately afterwards.

Achievement in a difficult year

The black and white coach also recalled the difficult season the club was experiencing. However, he stated that the team will do their best on the field to finish the year.

“I think that we, the players, the coaching staff, play for the fans, that is, we play for their joy. These fans have a feeling for the team. They are people who follow the team in a very difficult moment this year. A Gallo fan is always a fan with positive energy, as well as results”.

The Argentine coach added, “This means that we also have the need and priority to fight until the end to give them what they expect. That will be joy after a year that was not the best. This year can certainly end with great joy.”

More from Sampaoli:

Alan Franco“Yes, he can play. His injury is not disabling. Because it is a muscle, it does not prevent him from playing. But if there is a lot of pressure in the match, he will need to leave, or not complete the match. But if Franco is ready to play, he will play.”

Praise for Lanus“They played the South American Championship very stable, and they won strongly,” said the Atletico coach, for whom such a balanced decision will be determined in “details related to the match and external factors.”

Full focus“There is a lot at stake tomorrow and we are trying not to forget any details. The match is crucial for everything that comes.”

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