Part 2/6:
Abel Ferreira employed a mix-and-match strategy during the game, utilizing different players from each group, leading to a perceived lack of synchronization. The heat and the tough pitch conditions during the pre-season test posed additional obstacles, contributing to a less cohesive team performance.
Critiques and Expectations
Both analysts and the audience were quick to assess the match, often jumping to conclusions based on a short sample of games. Fábio Piperno argued against the harsh judgments by some commentators, insisting that most early-season games are merely training exercises rather than indicators of a team's potential. He recalled how previous seasons led to similar early-season assessments that soon proved irrelevant.