Pedro Ivo criticizes Santos' approach in defeat to Palmeiras
Commentator Pedro Ivo analyzed Santos' performance against Palmeiras, suggesting the team is prioritizing the league over the Copa do Brasil.
Palmeiras secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Santos in the first leg of the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals. Analyzing the match, commentator Pedro Ivo suggested that the visiting team did not put forth their best effort, prioritizing their domestic league campaign instead.
A key point of contention for the expert was the absence of star forward Neymar, who was not included in the squad for the match. Ivo argued that this selection decision clearly indicates that the club's current focus lies outside of the cup competition.
When you give up your quality players in the first leg, you show that what matters is the championship. Santos did not play a good first half; they were only trying to compete against Palmeiras. Pedro Ivo
Beyond the strategic choices, Ivo highlighted collective defensive failures. He noted that while goalkeeper Gabriel Brazão made an error on one of the goals, the fault also lies with the team's inability to provide adequate protection in front of the penalty area.
The 3-0 result leaves Santos with a difficult task for the return leg, scheduled for September 2nd at the Vila Belmiro. Neymar is expected to return to the squad for that decisive encounter.