Following a 2-0 defeat to Athletico-PR on August 9, 2026, Santos manager Cuca addressed the club’s precarious position in the Campeonato Brasileiro Z4.
The pressure on Santos intensified following a 2-0 loss to Athletico-PR at the Vila Belmiro, a result that dropped the club into the relegation zone of the Campeonato Brasileiro with 22 points. Two goals from Kevin Viveros secured the victory for the visitors, leaving the home side searching for answers during a crucial stretch of the season.
With 17 matches remaining in the domestic campaign, the team faces a demanding travel schedule and high-stakes fixtures against top-tier opponents.
A Grueling Three-Front Calendar and Squad Limitations
Santos remains active in three distinct competitions: the Campeonato Brasileiro, the Copa do Brasil, and the Copa Sul-Americana. However, the technical staff insists the current roster lacks the depth required to fight on all fronts simultaneously.
Santos manager Cuca stated that they have 17 matches to play, with seven at home and ten away, noting that at home they face very tough duels against Palmeiras, Flamengo, and Cruzeiro, and adding that he was already concerned about the situation in the Brasileiro but even more worried that they are fighting on three fronts without a squad capable of competing in all of them in the same way.
The immediate schedule offers no respite. The squad must travel to Ecuador to face Macará in continental play before returning to Brazil to face Mirassol, a direct competitor in the league standings, in a sequence that highlights the physical and logistical strain on the players. Cuca noted that on Thursday of next week, they are going to play away against Macará and return to face Mirassol, a direct opponent.
Transfer Bans and the Search for Immediate Reinforcements
Compounding the fixture congestion is an inability to refresh the squad during the recent transfer window. Cuca pointed directly to departures, a lack of new arrivals, and an active transfer ban as the root causes of the team’s current vulnerability, stating that they were one of the teams that did not make signings in the window, lost players, and are facing a transfer ban.
Precisamos de dois ou três jogadores para encorpar o grupo. É um desabafo que faço. Gosto de trabalhar com os guris, mas, neste momento de pressão, não é o ideal. Cuca, Manager, Santos
While the manager acknowledged a preference for developing young academy prospects, he stressed that the current relegation battle requires experienced depth. The absence of key contributors further exposed the team’s limitations against Athletico-PR. Notably, Neymar missed the fixture due to a suspension, an absence that Cuca noted affected the team’s tactical control and reduced pressure on the opposing defense.
Reflecting on the match atmosphere and the reaction of the supporters, Cuca added that he will not ask the fans for that because they find it bad, and with every reason. He also shared his personal feelings after the Sunday fixture, noting that he feels dejected and upset, that on Father’s Day, working and having a day like that is horrible for them, that it takes character to recognize that he could have done better and understand that it is their profession and their life, and that him leaving Santos is not a good deal for Santos, nor for him, nor for anyone.
The Path Forward and Upcoming Fixtures
Despite the club sitting in 17th place, Cuca expressed determination to extract maximum performance from the available players while urging fans for understanding during a difficult campaign. The team must quickly shift focus to international competition before returning to domestic play, keeping in mind upcoming matches such as a crucial clash against Vasco in Rio de Janeiro.
Santos manager Cuca remarked that they know they will face pressure starting right from the warm-up on Thursday, emphasizing the need for perseverance and noting that the people who jeer are the ones who want to see the team win and applaud them, because football is passion, there is no way to applaud a team in the relegation zone, and everyone has to stick together.
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