After training on Monday (05), Márcio Araújo spoke to journalists in the press room at CT George Helal, in Vargem Grande. The midfielder spoke about the good performances that the team has been presenting in Espírito Santo, in addition to the next red-black commitment, against Ponte Preta. Regarding the confrontation, the number 8 dismissed the supposed favoritism of Mais Querido due to the great technical quality of the team, praising the latest performances of the São Paulo team.

Our continued presence there makes all the difference. It's a place that has become our home. The support from our fans there is immense, especially because it's a smaller stadium and because of the proximity of the fans to the pitch. They've packed the stadium and supported us tremendously. We've also performed well on the field, and I think we've suited the venue well, where we secured a crucial qualification in our last match there.

There's a battle between five or six clubs at the top of the table. As the competition progresses, other teams will adjust. The championship is narrowing, and not just with the top teams at the moment. There are many other well-structured teams with strong squads capable of competing for the title.

Competitors' results in the Brasileirão
We'll leave the rest of the results for later in the round. We face a very tough opponent, one that hasn't lost in a long time and has had a very good season: Ponte Preta. Our focus is on playing well on Wednesday and getting the three points.

Zé Ricardo has maintained a tactical pattern. Of course, there are always changes here and there, but he always values ​​the quality of the squad. He's given everyone opportunities, aiming to earn points and continue to fight at the top of the table. It's much easier to rotate the team from midfield forward, as changing a defense is much more difficult. It's an area that requires consistency. The rotation in attack is much higher, but that's good because the players increasingly value the opportunities they receive. This rotation is something that significantly reduces the number of injuries. This has helped our squad significantly.

I established myself on the team by taking advantage of opportunities and respecting the quality of my teammates. Some players are more prominent in the media for their shots on goal, but everyone has their role and importance to the team. Not everyone is as important as they are in terms of goals and assists. I'm just another piece to fit into the team, and we've taken advantage of the opportunities the coach has given us.

I don't think we're favorites, especially given Ponte Preta's form. The game will be very even, especially given their high-tempo, counterattacking style. We've been keeping a close eye on this during training. We can't just go on the pitch with our heads held high, trying to outdo each other without breaking a sweat. We have to give our all because they also have a capable team. If our home advantage holds, we have everything we need to get the three points.