In an eventful week, Luis Zubeldía, São Paulo’s new head coach, made a memorable debut. After arriving in Brazil on Sunday, the Argentine led his first training session on Monday and secured a work visa in a rush to make his debut on Thursday, earning a 2-0 win over Barcelona SC at Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo in Guayaquil in the Conmebol Libertadores.
“That’s just who I am. In some games I’m more active. Soccer is a way of life. It’s part of my life. Soccer and my life are the same thing. Our styles. I love my family and I love soccer. It’s part of my life. I’ve been lucky to spend many years as a player, assistant, coach… and I can’t separate the two. It’s a way of life,” Zubeldía said after the game.
The Argentine coach showed his intensity on the touchline and passed it on to his players. São Paulo lined up in an attacking setup with four forwards, which proved effective against Barcelona SC.
With the win, São Paulo opened a comfortable gap over Barcelona SC, third in Libertadores Group B. Now on six points, the São Paulo side sit just one point behind the leaders, Argentina’s Talleres.
However, the debut was not without incident for Zubeldía, who was booked for stepping onto the field during the game. Even so, the coach stayed active in the technical area, directing his players and discussing tactics with his staff.
In the closing minutes, even with the game fully under control, Zubeldía remained restless in the technical area, showing his commitment and dedication to the team.
After the final whistle, the Argentine coach joined a huddle with members of his staff, discussing tactics and strategy for upcoming games, with particular focus on the positioning of the defensive midfielders against Barcelona SC.
With a winning debut and an energetic display on the touchline, Luis Zubeldía made it clear that he arrived already knowing the squad well, including how each player plays and in which position.
The Argentine coach changed the tactical setup (most notably starting with only two center backs and then switching to a back three), a different system from the one used in the game he watched from the box (against Atlético Goianiense). He also made several changes that proved crucial to the Tricolor’s win.
