“You make it look like I’m responsible for everything, only because I play in front of the central defenders,” he said. “It is logical that I would like us to take fewer goals. But sometimes the opponents are good and they make it harder on us. We made some mistakes against Ecuador, but the team plays in a way in which the defence is more exposed. We have to pay attention more.”
Mano Menezes defensive scheme was praised before the Copa America as Brazil strength, but with four goals conceived in the past two games, the Brazilian media had a few questions. Indeed against Paraguay, Brazil suffered a goal because of an individual mistake by Daniel Alves. And Against Ecuador, Julio Cesar was guilty of inattention on one of the goals. But Lucas defended his teammates and blamed it on the collective.
“Every tactical scheme as strengths and weaknesses,” he said. “We have players with attacking abilities that makes it normal for us to play up front and suffer a bit in the back. But the goals we conceived were the result of a collective error.”
Lucas Leiva concluded on a positive note: “I see a brilliant future for this Selecao.”
