After the 1-0 defeat to Internacional, in São Januário, Vasco coach, Rafael Paiva, countered the boos and insults from the fans.
“I don’t see fans booing players more than Vasco fans. I think that here we suffer a lot because of this desire that we have to see Vasco where Vasco deserves to be, which is competing for titles. We have to believe in the process that Vasco has to take step by step. We can’t fall this year, we have to fight for Libertadores, for Sudamericana, but we have to be patient with what happened with 777”, commented Rafael Paiva.
“I was booed in the first game when we eliminated Fortaleza. I caught the team in the relegation zone twice. And my first game was away against Fortaleza and I was booed. It’s part of it. They are a very passionate fan base and have suffered. We understand, I don’t take it personally. Everyone has a share of the blame. You can’t put the blame on a group, on one person. We are trying to improve, we need to improve, yes. How many rounds have we been on the first page?” added the coach.
Despite the difficulties and internal pressure, the coach emphasized that he still has a chance of winning a place in the Copa Libertadores. With 43 points, the team is just five behind the G7 and has a chance of reaching the classification in the last rounds.
“We built a very good scenario that could be much better. If we won, we would be one point away from the G7. You are always very close to the Libertadores, but if you look back, the teams are getting closer. Vasco has already booed Dinamite, who am I to think I won’t be booed? It’s part of the profession. While I’m here I’ll try to get the team to the best place possible. We believe in a Libertadores, a G7, a G8 or G9”, declared Rafael Paiva.
He returns to the field on Sunday (24), against Corinthians, at the Neo Química Arena, in São Paulo. The team occupies 9th place and continues to fight for a place in the next edition of the Libertadores.
