The squad only has eight more games to achieve the main objective of the season

With only eight games left until the end of the Brazilian Championship, Bahia continues to fight to win a place in the next Copa Libertadores. Externally, the tricolor does not hide that returning to international competition is the main objective of the season, and internally the players reinforce the statement that it is possible. This Tuesday (22), it was midfielder Cauly’s turn to hit the key again.

During an interview at CT Evaristo de Macedo, the number 8 analyzed the Squadron’s current situation and stated that if the team manages to beat Vasco away from home, next Monday (28), it will take an important step towards achieving the objective. The Squadron is currently 7th in Série A, with 46 points, three away from Internacional, which closes the classification zone, with 49.

“I believe that everything will be decided in the last game of the championship, but I am sure that if we beat Vasco it will be a very important step that we will be able to take towards our goal. Against Cruzeiro we felt the importance of the game, both teams wanting this triumph, but I see it as an important point, a difficult game away from home. This one against Vasco will be the same thing, and if we achieve a victory it will be a very important step”, began the midfielder.

Despite being outside the classification zone, Bahia knows how important it is to remain at the top of the table. If Flamengo, in 4th place, wins the Copa do Brasil title over Atlético-MG, it will take a direct place in the Libertadores and open another place in the international competition via the Brazilian Championship, transforming the G6 into the G7, which could benefit the club Bahian.

“We’ve always been saying that this is our main objective, of course we’ve had some fluctuations, that’s part of it. We had a very good start, we had high expectations in the first round, that’s our goal, we’re going to fight for it. We have difficult games ahead, but we will fight and do our best until we achieve it”, added Cauly.

During the conversation, Cauly was also asked about his own performance in 2024. After being one of the team’s highlights last year, the midfielder has faced criticism from the fans. The numbers, however, are very similar.

Among the four competitions that Bahia played in, Cauly scored eight goals and provided eight assists in 54 matches. Last season, there were 10 balls in the net and nine passes to teammates, but in a shorter period: 47 games.

The player seemed a little uncomfortable with the topic and said that, despite understanding the different opinions, he disagrees that the tactical scheme proposed by Rogério Ceni is hindering his performance. The coach even stated that the Squadron’s tactical scheme was designed to have Cauly as the most important player.

“I’ve already been asked a few times about the scheme and performance last year, I’ll say it again that I think this year we have a qualified group, with many players with similar characteristics, to make decisive passes. There are several players who make decisions, and last year the decisions were largely up to me. It doesn’t hurt me, I see it as a positive year, everyone has different opinions about me not standing out as much as last year, but in terms of numbers I already said it’s very similar”, he explained, before completing:

“I’m always wanting to help the group, I don’t see the system as a problem, it was this system that brought us to this position, I see the collective as the most important thing. If we are fighting for a Libertadores, it is more positive than it was last year.”