Fluminense ended their season after losing to Vasco in the Copa do Brasil semi-finals. After losing 2-1 in the first match, Luis Zubeldía’s team even won 1-0 in regulation time in the second match, but saw Léo Jardim emerge as a hero in the penalty shootout. During the press conference, the coach highlighted the difference between participating in the Brazilian Championship and playing a playoff match.
— We had no room for error. What really allowed us to qualify directly for the Libertadores was maintaining a regular starting team at home and, in the last few games, we managed to organize ourselves better as visitors (at the Brasileirão). Then the knockout phase was balanced, like between Cruzeiro and Corinthians. It doesn’t matter how the team arrives, it doesn’t matter if it arrives at the best time, because it lasts 180 minutes — Zubeldía emphasized.
With the end of the year, Zubeldía is already starting to look towards 2026. Asked about looking for reinforcements, the commander did not agree, but admitted that he would speak to the board of directors to qualify the team.
— With Paulo (Angioni), Mário (Bittencourt) and also with the future president (Mattheus Montenegro), we will continue to look for alternatives in the positions that we consider necessary to strengthen. I believe that the team, of course, always has things to improve. It is true that at some point we could perhaps have pushed more, especially with the entry of John Kennedy, but that also serves as an evaluation, he said.
One of the names that could appear next season is Nino, who captained the tricolor jersey during the Libertadores 2023 title. Today at Zenit, in Russia, the defender has the desire to return to the club.
— We talk a lot about the name Nino. Of course, this type of player is always welcome. He is young, a defender and already has a recent and important history here. So, of course, I hope we can bring it. Let’s see what happens,” he said.
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