Cuca admits doubts about Neymar at Santos for the game against Remo: We will reevaluate

Coach Cuca, from Santos, expressed uncertainty about Neymar’s participation in the decisive clash of the Copa do Brasil against Remo, scheduled for August 4, 2026, at 9:30 pm (Brasília time). The match, which will be held at the Mangueirão stadium, in Belém, is worth a place in the quarter-finals of the tournament.

The situation regarding Santos’ possible absences for the second leg

The number 10’s presence in the Santos team is uncertain due to the charity auction of the institute that bears his name, an event that will take place on the night of August 3, 2026, in São Paulo. The Santos squad is scheduled to travel to Pará hours before the game, needing a victory to advance in the competition, after a goalless draw at Vila Belmiro on the night of August 1, 2026.

The main moments of the 0-0 draw between Santos and Remo

Cuca stated that the auction is an annual and charitable initiative for the player, which attracts participants from all over the world. The coach highlighted that the club’s management is in charge of resolving the situation, while he will focus on the athlete’s physical reassessment when the team is re-presented.

The star’s participation will depend on the analysis of his physical wear and tear, which will be done at the re-presentation on August 2, 2026, at CT Rei Pelé.

Cuca detailed that Neymar hadn’t played a full match in 74 days. He explained the need to assess the level of wear and tear to make an internal decision, mentioning regeneration processes and exams to check the degree of fatigue and the risk of injury.

Cuca’s press conference after the draw between Santos and Remo

The Santos coach revealed that the team has already lost a player due to a probable muscle injury and that new reevaluations will take place on August 2, 2026 to define the next steps.

Neymar played the full 90 minutes on August 1, 2026 and received praise from the coach for his performance in the goalless draw.

Cuca lamented the lack of goals, stating that the team sought the game, especially in the first half, creating clear chances that were not converted into goals.

Santos’ schedule includes the reappearance on August 2, 2026 and training on the morning of August 3, 2026, before the trip to Belém.

The repercussion among fans about Santos’ difficulty in scoring goals

Other points covered by Cuca in the interview

Evaluating the team’s performance in the match

The coach described Santos as a very offensive team, aware that Remo would play more defensively and exploit counterattacks. He mentioned the creation of plays, articulations, balls hitting the post and a disallowed goal, but the difficulty of finding the net.

Cuca explained that an early goal would change the scenario, opening up more space, but Remo’s defense remained well closed, offering few risks to Santos, who, despite a good defense, failed to finish.

The role of Caballero and Gabriel Bontempo in the Santos midfield

When analyzing the use of Caballero and Gabriel Bontempo, Cuca noted that the team had been playing in a similar way in previous matches. He argued that this was not the time for two midfielders, but rather for more creativity. The coach praised the arrival of Caballero, who, despite some inaccurate crosses, brought the desired depth to the right, being an important player for the team.

Leaks of information from the locker room and the coach’s stance

Regarding the leaks of information from the locker room, Cuca declared not to worry, as long as the truth is told. He considered the search for information from the press to be natural and stated that he speaks the truth and does not send messages, focusing on doing the best for the team.

The pressure of games played in Vila Belmiro

Cuca disagreed with the assessment about the pressure in Vila Belmiro, stating that the team has created as many shots as before, with an average of 20 per game. He highlighted the team’s resistance, which is now able to maintain the pace until the end of matches, without players leaving with cramps.

The coach reiterated his desire to always play in Vila Belimro, highlighting that the balls hitting the post in the recent match could have completely changed the result. He mentioned the enormous pressure and the difficulty of scoring goals against an opponent who played defensively and closed the lines well.

The strategy for the offensive quartet of Gabigol, Neymar, Rollheiser and Barreal

Cuca respects the different views on the offensive quartet, but recalled that Gabriel Bontempo, in a previous game, was voted the best on the field playing in the same position. He explained that, in the current match, the player played more backwards, with freedom to advance, but without the same prominence, although without a bad performance.

The coach emphasized that each game has a different story and that he uses players as needed, trying to find the ideal team. Cuca stated that the quartet can play together in attacking situations, and that, despite the lack of results, the team had control of the game and good positioning, with only the goal missing.

Neymar’s relevance to the team and the volume of touches received

Cuca pondered the volume of Neymar’s touches on the ball, stating that he has already removed him from the team on several occasions, but will not do so at the start of the game, preferring that he starts as a starter. He described Neymar as an intelligent player, who is not difficult to deal with, and whose participation is crucial, as the most important plays often come from his feet, even when the opponent marks him from close range.