Vasco’s Medel set to return to the starting lineup against Palmeiras
Medel is likely to start in Vasco’s lineup against Palmeiras on Thursday at 9:30 pm at Allianz Parque. The coach has hinted that he will stick to the three-defender system for the match against Palmeiras. With João Victor suspended, Medel is expected to return to the starting lineup after more than a month without playing. The rest of the lineup is still undecided.
Coach Álvaro Pacheco does not reveal to the players during training who will be part of the starting team. However, some players are called for private conversations before matches – as was the case with defender Medel this week.
Against Flamengo, Álvaro Pacheco’s first game at Vasco, the lineup was only disclosed to the players when the delegation arrived at Maracanã. The players had an idea of who would play based on training and conversations with the coach, but confirmation came hours before the match.
Formerly the captain and a trusted player under Ramón Díaz, Medel has lost his place in Vasco. The Chilean’s last match was the defeat against Criciúma on April 27, which led to the Argentine coach’s dismissal.
The defender may even leave Vasco in the second transfer window of the season. Medel has one of the highest salaries in the squad and is unhappy with the lack of playing time at the club. This discomfort has led the Chilean to consider transferring to Boca Juniors, a club he played for in 2010.
In addition to Medel’s return, it is likely that a youth defender will be included in the match squad to sit on the bench. Lyncon, from the under-20 team, trained with the professional squad this week.
In the press conference after the match against Flamengo, the coach mentioned that the squad was not built to play with three defenders, as there are only five defenders available. With João Victor’s absence, only Maicon, Léo, Medel, and Rojas would be available.
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