After the 1-1 draw against Avaí, on Saturday night (23), at Ilha do Urubu, coach Reinaldo Rueda gave a press conference and commented on the result, in addition to focusing on the Copa do Brasil decision.

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Check out the main excerpts:

Diego Alves starter

I was convinced I would use Muralha in today's match. However, yesterday I thought better of it and decided it would be best to be cautious and avoid any situation that could injure him. Therefore, I decided to opt for Diego Alves as the starter due to the intensity of the match.

Wednesday's game is very important for us, and we'll be working every day until then. Luckily, we'll have the entire team available, except Everton, who is in transition and I don't know if he'll be 100% available. We can't rush his return, as he needs to be fully recovered. We need to look for alternatives and will go with the best of them for the match. We'll have a very strong and intelligent team, as the match is still very open.

Today's game was intense in the second half. We started well, but we gave Avaí a chance to build confidence. They capitalized on the space we gave them; they're well-structured. We lacked accurate finishing, which we didn't achieve today. The team put in a lot of effort. Mancuello is intelligent and played a role he knows how to perform well. He's regaining his level.

We really want this World Cup, and we'll prepare to play well, with order and intelligence. Our opponent is demanding and very well-structured. We'll aim for a smart, compact game. The final is still wide open.

The goal was scored on the fly, an attempt against a tight defense. Rodinei has these things. It's a reward for the team's effort, dedication, and courage in pursuing the game. I'm happy for him, as he's a very cheerful and hard-working player.

I wanted to give the players who came today a chance, as they're lacking in rhythm. We couldn't take any risks in the Copa do Brasil final, so I didn't plan on using them. We need full strength in the final.