As the offseason concludes and an intense schedule looms ahead, Pedro Lourenço, owner of Cruzeiro SAF, clarified the team’s competitive strategy: Raposa will treat all competitions with equal importance.

The club is set to engage in the Brazilian Championship, the Copa do Brasil, and the Libertadores, asserting that none will be prioritized over the others.

Advertisement

🏆 No Resting Players

In a recent interview with TV Cruzeiro, Lourenço shared insights into the club’s planning in coordination with the coaching staff:

Mindset: The primary objective is to pursue victory in every competition, without treating the Brasileirão or the cups as lesser priorities.

Lineup: The strategy involves fielding the strongest team available at all times. Changes will be made only for reasons of physical fatigue or tactical adjustments, without the intent to rest players for upcoming tournaments.

💼 Squad Assessment and Transfer Market

The chairman provided an overview of the club’s actions during the transfer window:

Top 5 in Brazil: Lourenço believes that the significant financial investment has elevated the club’s status, positioning Cruzeiro among the top five teams in Brazilian football.

Advertisement

Understandable Departures: Addressing the departures of defensive midfielder Christian and left-back Kaiki, he noted that the club was reluctant to sell but was compelled by compelling offers and the personal circumstances of the players.

Replacements: With major signings such as Gabriel Pec and Gabriel Rojas joining, Lourenço expressed full confidence in the current squad.

🗓️ The Celeste Marathon

Raposa will face a crucial and challenging period from late July to August:

07/22 (Brasileirão): Internacional vs. Cruzeiro (Beira-Rio).

07/26 (Brasileirão): Cruzeiro vs. Botafogo (Mineirão).

07/30 (Brasileirão): Coritiba vs. Cruzeiro (Couto Pereira).

Advertisement

08/02 and 08/05 (Copa do Brasil – Round of 16): First and second legs against Chapecoense (first leg at Arena Condá, second leg at Mineirão).

08/12 and 08/19 (Libertadores – Round of 16): A national showdown against Flamengo (first leg at Mineirão, qualification to be decided at the Maracanã).

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.