Absences in all sectors of the team force the coach to make substitutions, but the idea is also to surprise the opponent
Vasco still does not know whether he will rely on Cuesta, Andres Gomez and Puma Rodriguez, in the match against Gremio, Wednesday (19), at the Arena do Gremio, in the 34th round of the Brazilian Championship. The logistics of their presence in Porto Alegre will depend on the condition of the players in the friendly matches organized by FIFA.
Colombia, led by Cuesta and Andres Gomez, and Uruguay, led by Puma, played the previous day against Australia and the United States in the North American country. Even if they arrive on time, everyone will start the game on the bench. This is what happened to the Uruguayan, in Vasco’s victory over Fortaleza, at Arena Castelao. On that occasion, the right-back arrived on match day and entered the second half.
For this reason, we can say that Vasco will have changes compared to the team that lost in the last round to Juventude. And so, with one week left to face Gremio, Fernando Diniz has already started drafting the team. At right-back, without Paulo Henrique, who plays for the Brazilian national team, but is also suspended, and Puma, Tchê Tchê will have to improvise.
With the midfielder moving to right-back, Thiago Mendes becomes a regular option. The player has done extensive physical regeneration and should be given a chance. The last – and also only – time he featured for Vasco was on August 20, when they lost 2-0 to Juventus at the Alfredo Jaccone Stadium.
Thiago Mendes’ ownership is linked to Hugo Moura’s decline in defence. The midfielder is set to replace Cuesta and form a defensive duo with Robert Renan. Lucas Oliveira is also an option, but with less power at the moment.
Headache in attack
Diniz’s main doubt is in the attacking sector. Without Andres Gomez, Vegeté appears to be the safest option. But the return of David, who was suspended in the last match, made the technical committee analyze this possibility as well. The idea is to replicate the formation to defeat Santos, with David and Ryan open on the flanks, leaving Nuno Moreira and Coutinho floating and rotating as a ‘false 9’.
The possibility of changing the offensive formation has an explanation in offensive production. Note that the team scored only one goal in the last three matches. There are still six more training sessions remaining for Fernando Diniz to determine Vasco’s lineup. No matter the team, the goal will be the same. Ending a streak of three consecutive defeats.
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