Bahia coach Renato Paiva knows that the team did not play exciting football against Jacuipense, on Sunday night (15), but he praised the attitude of his players, who won the triumph by 1-0, at the Valfredão stadium, in Riachão do Jacuípe , in a match valid for the second round of the Bahia Championship.
“Very proud of the players and their work capacity. We played away from home, against the runner-up from Bahia, in low gameplay conditions. Even so, we entered the game very well. We circled the ball and entered the zones more times than I expected Afterwards, the game became more difficult. In the second half, this became more pronounced. The opponent often defended with six and that made it difficult for us, but we had 16 shots and nine scoring opportunities. That was what I asked of the players. We have to want to win. Sometimes we won’t succeed, but we always have to want it. If it doesn’t go in quality and talent, it goes in the strength of work, and that made me very satisfied today”, said the tricolor coach after the game.
Renato Paiva also pointed out that the lawn at the Valfredão stadium compromised Bahia’s style of play. “Without a doubt. On a better pitch, the ball will circulate faster. This pitch requires much greater muscular demand from us and the ball doesn’t move fast. Our game has a very fast circulation base. It’s not an excuse, it’s a reality. In Formula 1, when it starts to rain, rain tires are used. Here it’s similar. If the grass doesn’t help, we have to change the way we play”, he said.
For the tricolor technician, the adversities made the athletes adapt to reach the goal. The winning goal was scored by Ricardo Goulart, in the 37th minute of the second half, with a header after a corner kick by Biel. “Players need to get used to stepping out of their comfort zone to find solutions. That’s what we did today.”
Scorer of the goal, Ricardo Goulart started on the bench, as well as Caio Vidal. The two had been starters in Bahia’s debut of the season, last Wednesday (11), in the 3-1 triumph against Juazeirense, but gave way to Biel and Everaldo.
“Much of my trajectory goes from decisions of players who were not called up and then are in the starting lineup. At the end of every game there is a training session and another game. There will be no discarded pieces in this team. And here nobody will play by name. Here you will play who works. We will give opportunities, we have to be professionals. The ambition to want more in training will define. This is our great victory”, said the coach.
Bahia returns to the field on Wednesday (18), at 21:30, against Atlético de Alagoinhas, in Fonte Nova, for the third round of the Bahia Championship.
