Paulinho is back. On Wednesday night (27), the steering wheel of the Corinthians entered the field in the second stage of the friendly against London after ten months out due to injury.
In an exclusive interview with ESPN After the final whistle, the athlete did not hide his excitement at being able to return. “It was a difficult few months, where the guy has to have a very strong mental health with the help of family and friends. But I was happy to have my return, to be well, to feel confident.”
Asked when he will return to play for 90 minutes, the midfielder was sincere. “This return is little by little. The 90 minutes, I still have a little to work on in terms of conditioning. And what will condition me are the matches. But, little by little, I’ll get there to reach the 90 minutes.”
Under the command of António Oliveira, Paulinho will have a new role within the midfield. But he has still found it difficult to play deeper…
“António has been asking me to play as the first midfielder. But sometimes I take that little break to get into the area (laughs). But that’s what I say, I’m going to perform the role that the coach asks me to do in the best possible way so I can help these boys and my teammates achieve things this year,” he said.
With a contract until June, the veteran’s situation is still undefined, but he remains calm about it. “My contract runs until June, I made this very clear to the management and my representatives for them to resolve in the best possible way. What I said is that while I’m here, I will fight until the last day of my contract, until I see that I am useful to the club, to the institution, to my teammates”.
“Because we know the responsibility of being an experienced guy and when difficult times come, being a guy to help the younger ones. I’ll leave it in their hands, but continue doing my job in the best possible way, with professionalism”, he concluded .
Upcoming Corinthians games:
Tags: Paulinho excited returning Corinthians year
