Striker Gilberto, the main target of Cruzeiro fans in a protest held this Saturday (26), at Toca da Raposa 2, was not listed by Pepa to face Grêmio, on Sunday (27), at 7 pm, at the Grêmio Arena, for 21st round of the Brazilian Championship.
Gilberto was considered the main culprit of the celestial stumble against Corinthians, last Saturday (19). On the occasion, the striker lost the ball that generated the counterattack that ended in the Corinthians goal when the lights went out in the match that Cruzeiro was winning 1-0, with a goal by Rafael Elias, the Parrot.
The mistake, added to the bad phase of the player — who has scored six goals in 30 games with Cruzeiro’s shirt and hasn’t scored goals since the last May 14th, when he scored twice in the celestial rout over rival América-MG, by 4 to 0 — meant that the attacker became very hostile by Cruzeirenses. If Corinthians won, Pepa’s team would be able to move away from the relegation zone of the Brasileirão and end a fast of five games without winning.
Despite preferring not to individualize criticism of Gilberto after the match against Corinthians, Pepa understood that the best thing to do at the moment was to preserve the striker.
“These individual issues, as you understand, are reviewed internally.
Pepa, in a press conference after Cruzeiro 1 x 1 Corinthians
Filipe Machado, Gilberto’s partner on Cruzeiro, went down to the Mineirão locker rooms, shortly after the final whistle of the match against Corinthians, very irritated with his partner, showing that dissatisfaction was not just in the stands.
— Hold the b… the ball, c…!
Filipe Machado, midfielder for Cruzeiro, passing through the mixed zone of Mineirão right after Cruzeiro 1 x 1 Corinthians.
Ian Luccas is injured and duo returns
Among those related, the return of Mateus Vital and William stands out, who had been injured in the match against Palmeiras, valid for the 19th round of the Brasileirão. Vital, 25, suffered a dislocated right shoulder, while the 28-year-old right-back injured the hamstring of his right thigh.
Among the absences, the young midfielder Ian Luccas, 20, stands out, who was left out of the squad by Pepa for having suffered a trauma to his right ankle.
Midfielder Ian Luccas suffered trauma to his right ankle during training at Toca II, and is unavailable for the match against Grêmio.
— Cruise (@Cruzeiro) August 26, 2023
Who is injured on Cruzeiro?
See the related by Pepa for Grêmio x Cruzeiro
- Goalkeepers: Rafael Cabral, Anderson and Gabriel Mesquita
- Defenders: João Marcelo, Helibelton Palacios, Kaiki, Luciano Castán, Marlon, Neris and William
- Midfielders: Daniel Júnior, Fernando Henrique, Filipe Machado, Lucas Silva, Mateus Vital, Matheus Jussa and Nikão
- Attackers: Arthur Gomes, Bruno Rodrigues, Paulo Vitor, Rafael Elias, Robert, Stênio and Wesley
Next matches for Cruzeiro in the Brasileirão
Grêmio x Cruzeiro changes schedule
The match between Grêmio and Cruzeiro will no longer take place at 4 pm. The game, which will take place this Sunday (27), was rescheduled for 19h. The confrontation is valid for the 21st round of the Brasileirão and will be played at Arena do Grêmio. Living a bad moment in the season, Pepa’s team knows they need to win to stay away from the relegation zone.
TIME CHANGE
Grêmio and Cruzeiro will no longer take place at 4 pm. The match, which will be held on Sunday (27), was rescheduled for 19h. The game, valid for the 21st round of the Brasileirão, will be played at Arena do Grêmio.
Staff Images/Cruise pic.twitter.com/lUf7HA4dmA
— Maic Costa (@omaiccosta) August 22, 2023