Despite losing 1-0 to LDU in Quito on Wednesday night, Grêmio coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo is confident his side can turn the result around in the second leg of their Copa Libertadores playoff next week and called on the fans for help.
“The Grêmio fans have to create a special atmosphere,” he told reporters from Zero Hora after the game.
“Making the Arena like the Bombonera, encouraging us during the 90 minutes. I’m sure the fans will embrace the team, they saw the commitment of the players here.
“Everything is open. I call on the fans for this game at home, so that it makes a difference in the Arena.”
Grêmio had gone to Ecuador in advance of the game to get used to the high altitude conditions and the move seemed to pay-off as they matched their hosts throughout an even game.
“When did we knew LDU was our opponent, the board made a great effort and changed all the logistics.
“We prove that you can do a job to match the physical part. First you must break the psychological aspect and then the anaerobic.
“We made several training sessions of possession and got the timing right but the thing is we lost the football game, we missed many chances. But let’s make the home game count.”
LDU edged the first half but neither side created any great amount of chances. However, 30 minutes into the second half Grêmio were forced into a change after goalkeeper Dida got hurt while punching a cross and his replacement, Marcelo Grohe, was called straight into action.
First he tipped a long range effort onto the bar and then quickly got up to block a follow up header off the line but could not stop Feraud’s finish to put LDU in the lead.
In the first half Grêmio had been reduced mainly to long shots but had a number of opportunities in the second half to get the important away goal.
Both Souza and Fernando hit the bar and Marcelo Moreno missed a number of great chances as the game came to a close.
The result means that Grêmio will have to win by two clear goals in the return fixture in Porto Alegre next Wednesday.
Source: Zero Hora
