Grêmio coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo has blamed his team’s lack of experience for their defeat at Juventude on Saturday and believes they are at risk from elimination from the Gauchão.
Luxemburgo sent a reserve side to Caxias do Sul at the weekend as he once again chose to keep the first team fresh for this week’s Copa Libertadores tie against Chilean Clausura champions Huachipato.
“We built a 1-0 advantage and could have expanded,” Luxemburgo told reporters after the game.
“What happened to the team, with many young people, meant everyone wanting to do the latter and not know the trade of the game.
“We should have been waiting and not chasing them. There was a change in behaviour which was unnecessary.”
The former Real Madrid coach is aware that his team may not qualify for the knockout stage but admitted that they can still do it, despite concentrating mainly on the Copa Libertadores.
“It is very difficult. We are in the process of assembling the squad. There is no privilege for us losing with the B team.
“We are in this position on the basis of our immediate needs for the Libertadores. It is within the project, the risk exists, is hard and difficult, but we are able to achieve classification.”
Source: Globo Esporte
