Hugo Souza, who left the Maracanã with the impression that Corinthians could have avoided the defeat against Flamengo, praised the reserve team's postura combativa (combative attitude) in the face of the current leader of the Campeonato Brasileiro.
The reserve players, who did not have many opportunities, entered the game in a very difficult situation, with some of them making their professional debut, such as 17-year-old Iago. Despite the team's 2-1 defeat, Hugo Souza highlighted the value of their performance, saying: "A rapaziada que não vem tendo tanta oportunidade entra hoje em um jogo tão difícil, em uma situação difícil como é jogar aqui no Maracanã e dar conta do recado da forma que deu." (The young players who are not getting many opportunities enter the game today in a very difficult situation, in a difficult situation like playing here at the Maracanã and delivering the message in the way they did.)
The Corinthians will face Estudiantes in the Conmebol Libertadores quarterfinals on Wednesday, and then play against Fluminense in the Campeonato Brasileiro on the following Sunday.