Muricy's time
Edu Dracena, captain of the two-time São Paulo state champion team, says that the new coach has changed Santos' mentality.
247, with information from Agência Estado – After the 2-1 victory over Corinthians, which guaranteed Santos, on Sunday (15), the Paulista bicampeonato, coach Muricy Ramalho praised the work done by his two predecessors in the position, Adílson Batista and Marcelo Martelotte, and minimized his role in the conquest. Excess of humility and good character, since under his command Peixe conceded only one goal in six state championship matches – four of them, incidentally, in the knockout phase. The change in the team's posture in marking was highlighted by defender and captain Edu Dracena.
"Muricy instilled in the team's minds that, without the ball, everyone needs to defend. When the defender runs back, to the sides, it's wrong. He implanted that in the players' heads. He said that Santos gave away a lot of counter-attacks and his teams exploited that. He neutralized that. We have a winning coach and we have to listen to him," he said in an interview with RedeTV!
For Edu Dracena, the victory showed that he and Durval are quality defenders, despite having been the target of criticism in the past. “I know my importance on the field for Santos. Criticism is normal and I always have to work hard. Durval and I didn't just parachute into Santos; we have a history here. Conceding goals is always the defense's fault. We had the confidence of the players and the coaching staff, so much so that all the coaches kept us as starters and me as captain,” he stated.
Despite winning the title, Edu Dracena assures that Santos is already thinking about the second leg of the Libertadores quarter-final against Once Caldas, on Wednesday at the Pacaembu Stadium. “Once Caldas plays better away from home. We know that, that we have a slight advantage. But we won't use that. We have to repeat our style of play. It will be an even more difficult game. Now we'll rest. But Santos' physical preparation is very good,” he commented.
Edu Dracena promised that Santos will overcome fatigue to advance to the Libertadores semifinals. "We fought so hard to reach the final and the quarterfinals of the Libertadores that fatigue can't hinder us in these games. The players and the staff all deserve congratulations," he concluded.