Grêmio did not take advantage of the month and a half break in the calendar, motivated by the World Cup dispute, and, in the early hours of Friday to Saturday, the team's results crisis took on new dimensions after the 2-1 defeat to Mirassol, at the José Maria de Campos Maia Stadium.
Luís Castro goes from bad to worse and forces Grêmio to 'punch the table'
Grêmio did not take advantage of the month and a half break in the calendar, motivated by the World Cup dispute, and, in the early hours of Friday to Saturday, the team's results crisis took on new dimensions after the...
The result was practically defined in the first half, with goals from Bruno Santos and Edson Carioca. In the final stage, Carlos Vinícius, former Benfica, Rio Ave and Real SC player, scored against Grêmio and gave hope of a reaction, but the team from Rio Grande do Sul was unable to avoid another defeat.
With this result, Grêmio have won just two of their last six matches in all competitions, increasing the pressure on Portuguese coach Luís Castro. Even so, after the final whistle, executive director Paulo Pelaipe made a point of ensuring that the coach remains prestigious and is not at risk of dismissal.
"The solution is not to change the coach, bring in another and, in three or four months, try again. We know that the fans are outraged, and they are right. The fans want victories, and they are not happening. We will not stop facing the fans saying that they are right. We need to make corrections. We work hard, but, unfortunately, the results we want are not happening", he stated.
"The fans have reason to be upset, we are too, but we cannot create a scorched earth. We performed below expectations during this period. We have commitments and we cannot, within the reality of Grêmio, create situations that we will not be able to fulfill, hiring for the sake of hiring and spending beyond the budget", he continued, in statements reproduced by the ge portal.
"It's a difficult time. We never promised the fans anything other than a lot of work and that 2026 would be a very complicated year (...). We are in a difficult situation. The players know they need to do more, we also need to do more, and that's what we're going to do. The only thing that has no solution in life is death. Everything else has a solution, and we're going to work to find it", he added.
Grêmio’s situation in the Brasileirão
So far, in the 19th round of the Brazilian Championship, in addition to Mirassol's 2-1 victory over Grêmio, they also beat Botafogo, who beat Santos by the same score, and Vitória, who defeated Vasco 1-0. Fluminense and Red Bull Bragantino drew 1-1.
The round continues on Tuesday, with Atlético-MG x Bahia. On Wednesday the duel between Coritiba and Palmeiras will be played. On Thursday, clashes will take place between São Paulo and Athletico-PR, Internacional and Cruzeiro, Chapecoense and Flamengo, in addition to Corinthians and Remo.
With these results, Luís Castro's Grêmio occupies 16th place in the Brazilian Championship, just above the relegation zone, with 21 points, the same score as Internacional (who are still playing in the round) and Santos, and just one point ahead of Vasco, led by Pedro Emanuel, the first team within the Z-4.
Read Also: Pedro Emanuel has a debut to forget at Vasco da Gama
Source: Noticias ao Minuto - Ultima Hora
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