Morumbi, 16 PM: Cuca bets on the talent of the youngsters and Carille tightens up the team's defense.

By Ricardo Kotscho, in Kotscho's Basket and for the Journalists for Democracy - Whatever the outcome of this afternoon's game at Morumbi, São Paulo fans like myself can already celebrate.

We finally have a team to root for again, without the embarrassment and anger we've experienced in recent years.

It's true: with the youngsters from Cotia, São Paulo became a great team again in just a few weeks.

Two very different schools of football, one playing attack and the other defense, will face each other at Morumbi.

Based on the announced lineups for both teams, we're going to see the speed and vertical play of the Cotia academy players on one side, and on the other, the anti-football tactics of Carille's defensive team.

The fact that veteran goalkeeper Cássio is Corinthians' best player this season already shows the difference between the two teams.

In São Paulo, the big star is Antony, a daring and audacious 19-year-old who always goes after anyone in search of a goal.

What's hard to understand is why São Paulo's management only now gave Antony, Igor Gomes, Lizieiro, and Luan a chance to play together, when they were already at the club at the beginning of the year.

In fact, they've been there for a long time, enchanting those who watch the youth teams' games.

Interestingly, São Paulo promoted André Jardine, the coach who developed these young players, to the first team, but started the year still fielding former players like Nenê, Diego Souza (who has since left), and Jucilei.

Out of fear of losing, São Paulo didn't play to win, unlike now with Mancini/Cuca, and Jardine ended up losing his job.

That's life in full swing. Nothing surprises us like football, when it comes to turning the game around in an instant.

I just hope that the venerable and stubborn São Paulo club directors have learned their lesson and don't force Cuca to field Pablo and Hernanes, the two players signed for exorbitant sums this year.

Without them, the team is faster, more focused, and plays much better.

And may they have a little patience so as not to sell their young prospects too quickly, as they did with Davi Neres, now in the national team, and Luiz Araújo, among so many others.

Speaking of which, where are Toró and Gabriel Novaes (they say he went to Barcelona and disappeared), other golden boys who should have been on this team a long time ago?

Now, at least, we can cheer without fear. We might even beat Corinthians...

Have a good Sunday.

Life goes on.

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