Rafael Paiva’s week has been crazy. Prepared to lead Vasco’s under-20 team in the Rio Cup final against Flamengo, last Sunday, the coach had to put his plans aside to answer the professional’s call. Without much time to train and get to know the cast, the interim has prioritized conversations throughout the week.
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While drawing up plans with football director Pedro Martins and CEO Lúcio Barbosa, Paiva saw from afar the victory of his first title with Vasco’s under-20s – he was hired at the end of January.
Between discovering that he would coach the professional and the first game of the third phase of the Copa do Brasil, against Fortaleza, Rafael Paiva had just two days to train the squad. Before the clash with Athletico-PR, in the Brasileirão, on Sunday, there will be three more training sessions.
The short space of time makes the interim use communication as a weapon at Vasco. Paiva is a coach who likes to talk and listen to the club’s players and professionals on a daily basis. He has also used videos to convey his ideas to the cast.
Watch the press conference with Rafael Paiva after Vasco’s draw against Fortaleza
Both at Palmeiras and Vasco, Rafael Paiva is known for his offensive proposal and the freedom he gives to the front players. As a professional, he had to adapt – against Fortaleza, for example, it was the defensive strategy that guaranteed the draw away from home.
– I really believe in the offensive game, I think that a purposeful game makes athletes develop more. But the context was different, we needed to organize ourselves to learn how to concede without conceding a goal, this is very important in any category – said Paiva on Wednesday.
– I already knew the group well, I knew the players well, I knew the players’ profile. No matter how big the challenge, it’s a good challenge. It’s where we want to be, where we work to get. I’m very happy with the response from the athletes – added the interim.
People who followed Paiva’s routine in recent days told the ge that there is not much change in relation to previous coaches, due to the lack of time – the job is temporary and Vasco is already looking for a replacement for Ramón Díaz.
One of the changes was to increase Vasco’s midfield options. With Payet out of the game against Fortaleza and no one to replace the number 10, Paiva called young Guilherme Estrella to train professionally.
The under-20 midfielder is a player who really likes the interim and has 13 games, with four goals and two assists, at the base in 2024. He was on the bench against Fortaleza and should also be included to face Athletico-PR, at 4pm on Sunday, at the Ligga Arena.
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Tags: time train Vasco interim Rafael Paiva prioritizes conversations squad Vasco
