Corinthians Under-20 coach reveals special work with Luizinho and cites the midfielder's versatility
- By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial
Over the afternoon of last Wednesday (17), Corinthians faced Vitória, at the Alfredo Schürig Stadium, Fazendinha, in a match valid for the 16th round of the classification phase of the 2026 Brazilian Under-20 Championship, and won by the score of 2 x 1. The result meant that Filhos do Terrão returned to the G8 of the category's national tournament with 25 points in total - seven wins, four draws and five defeats - 27 goals scored and 21 conceded.
A few minutes after the match, coach William Batista gave an exclusive interview to Central do Timão and spoke about the performance and individual moment of the scorers of Timãozinho's goals: midfielder Luiz Gustavo Bahia and striker Luiz Fernando. The first went into the net in the 21st minute of the first half, after displacing the goalkeeper on a penalty kick. After spending the second half of last year as a professional, he returned to the Under-20s at the beginning of 2026 to maintain his playing rhythm and has been one of the team's leaders.
Photo: Rodrigo Gazzanel/Agência Corinthians
Montage: Central do Timão
"I have placed Bahia in some positions there as a 5, sometimes as an 8, they have been entering the opponent's area a little more. Bahia has had a great ability as a midfielder, as a 5, to build plays, to set up from behind", he began. Last year, the midfielder was Timãozinho's second top scorer in the category with nine goals in 26 matches.
In relation to winger Luiz Fernando 'Luizinho, who has been the team's highlight in the current season, as he is the team's top scorer with 12 goals in 22 games, the Under-20 commander revealed that he had been working with the athlete on specific finishing fundamentals. The goal scored, in this way, was a crowning achievement of the training carried out during the week of the match against Vitória.
The number 11 went to the net in the 42nd minute of the second half, after receiving a pass from Guilherme Pires and hitting a cross. In the first half, he had missed a similar chance when receiving a pass from Luiz Fábio 'Favela' inside the penalty area.
"Luizinho's second goal today really stands out for us. He hadn't been shooting those balls in previous games, so I started to ask him in training to take more risks. We did some complementary work this week, in which he practiced a lot of shots with his right leg. When he scored, the entire bench shouted for him to shoot with his right. He luckily took the risk and found the net", he added.
William celebrated the young man's evolution and responded about the possibility of Bahia and Luiz Fernando being used in the professional team, led by coach Fernando Diniz, in the second semester. Corinthians, it is worth remembering, is in a serious financial crisis and faces a new FIFA transfer ban, being prevented from registering new signings at this time, which could result in the base being increasingly used.
"It's gratifying when we work with a player who already scored goals, but who this year, for example, surpassed last season's mark with half of the games. I see this as a part of the influence of our work, but the ultimate credit is his. Without his dedication and without him believing in us this wouldn't be possible. The scenario is being drawn and Diniz, with all the intelligence and experience he has, will know the right moment to give opportunities to the two or other athletes when he needs it", he continued.
After beating Vitória, at home, in the Brasileirão U20, Corinthians maintains its focus on the national competition. This is because, next Saturday (20), they will face Cruzeiro, at CT Toca da Raposa, away from home, in the 17th round of the first phase of the tournament. A positive result could bring Timão closer to qualifying for the quarter-finals.
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Source: Timao Central