The technical Fernando Diniz spoke after the Corinthians' defeat by Platense, in the last round of the first phase of the Libertadores, and evaluated the team's performance. The game, played at home, ended with the Argentine team's victory, and Diniz highlighted that the opponent had merit, mainly in marking and transitions. He also commented on the time of the player Memphis Depay, who played only in the first half after recovering from a physical problem. In addition, Diniz spoke about the boos of the crowd for the player Yuri Alberto, who recently expressed the desire to leave Corinthians.
The Corinthians' 1-0 defeat to Platense was an unexpected result, mainly because the team was already qualified for the Libertadores round of 16. Corinthians finished the first phase with 11 points in the group. Technical Fernando Diniz emphasized that the team tried to improve in the second half, but it was not enough. He also highlighted that Platense bet on transitions and free ball, which was correct.
The player Memphis Depay, who recovered from a physical problem that kept him out for almost two months, played in the first half and was substituted at halftime. Diniz explained that it was the right moment for Depay to start the match and that it was natural for him to feel the lack of rhythm after so much time off. The player Yuri Alberto was booed by the Corinthians crowd when he left the field for Pedro Raul. Diniz commented that this is normal and that Yuri Alberto has enough experience to deal with the situation.
Corinthians still have a last commitment before the World Cup against Grêmio, in the 18th round of the Brazilian Championship. The match will be played on Saturday, May 30. The team returns to the field after the break and seeks to maintain pace and form for the rest of the season. Technical Fernando Diniz and the squad seek to correct mistakes and improve performance for the next challenges.
