The Argentinian Luis Zubeldia was presented this Monday as the new coach of São Paulo and asked the Colombian James Rodriguez and to the rest of the stars of the Brazilian club to think “about the team” above individualities.
“It is important that all the players are at their best level. The name does not matter,” said the Santa Rosa coach at a press conference when asked about the situation of James Rodriguez, currently injured.
James, with problems
The Colombian playmaker, a former player for Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, among other European clubs, arrived at the São Paulo team almost a year ago, but has not finished establishing himself in the starting eleven and even threatened to terminate his contract in the preseason.
Zubeldía admitted that each player needs “particular attention” because “not everyone is the same” within the squad, although he stressed that the most important thing is that “they must think about the team.”
The Argentine coach signed a contract with the Tricolor de Morumbí for two seasons, until December 2025and will replace the Brazilian in office Thiago Carpini, that disappointed at the start of the course.
You already know what it is to win international titles. Last year he won the Copa Sudamericana with LDU de Quito and now he has set the Copa Libertadores as his main objective.
The Libertadores, an obsession
“The Libertadores is an obsession. It is very important (…) It is the obsession of all those who have already won it and those who have not, like me, and we are going to work to be able to have it,” he indicated.
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São Paulo is today in second position in Group B of the 2024 Libertadores with three points, after losing at home against Argentine Talleres (2-1) and beating Chilean Cobresal (2-0) with suffering. There are still four days left to finish this phase.
Zubeldía defined his new teamor as a “giant” who “was always highly respected” in the world and revealed that he decided to join him despite having offers from “several leagues” on the table. “But I wanted to be here,” she said.
The coach also had kind words for one of his former teams, Barcelona, from Guayaquil, with whom they will face in the group stage of the Libertadores on Thursday.
“They always want me to come back,” but “I’m going to defend the colors of São Paulo,” he said.
