Dorival Júnior said São Paulo did not deserve a harsh assessment after its 1-0 defeat to Remo at Mangueirão in the 18th round of the Brazilian Championship. Speaking after the match, the coach downplayed the loss and argued that his team was not outplayed or unbalanced. He said São Paulo controlled most of the actions during the game but failed to turn that superiority into a result.
The decisive goal came in stoppage time of the second half, when Remo capitalized on an error in São Paulo’s buildup play to score and secure the victory. The late strike left São Paulo empty-handed despite what Dorival described as a largely controlled performance.
The result added pressure on São Paulo in the league and extended Dorival Júnior’s wait for a Brazilian Championship win since his return to the club. Even so, the coach’s post-match comments focused on the team’s control of the match rather than the final score, suggesting he saw the defeat more as a failure in efficiency than a collapse in performance.
São Paulo struggled to convert possession and field advantage into clear scoring opportunities, while Remo stayed disciplined and waited for a chance to punish mistakes. That opportunity arrived in the final moments, and the home side made the most of it. The loss highlighted São Paulo’s difficulties in finishing matches and protecting the ball in dangerous areas.
Dorival’s assessment was that the team played with enough control to justify a better outcome, but could not complete the work it started. The coach emphasized that the performance itself was not below standard, even if the result was disappointing. The defeat therefore becomes part of a broader discussion about São Paulo’s effectiveness in the competition, especially in key moments late in games.
Remo’s victory was built on patience and a single decisive mistake from the visitors. São Paulo, despite having more of the ball and more control in phases of play, was unable to translate that into the goal it needed. The match ended as a reminder that possession alone does not guarantee points in the Brasileirão.
For São Paulo, the setback is another frustrating chapter in a campaign where results matter as much as control. For Dorival Júnior, it was a chance to defend his team’s display while acknowledging the painful reality of a stoppage-time defeat.
