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What did the Saudi Al-Ittihad star do against the Atlas Lions?
Former Brazil star Felipe Melo praised Fabinho’s big impact against Morocco, stressing that the veteran midfielder played a key role in restoring Seleção’s balance in a positive 1-1 draw in the first round of the U-20 group three tournaments.
Brazil suffered for long periods of the first half against the formidable Moroccan outfit as they struggled to control the midfield and build attacks as required before the game gradually changed with the introduction of Fabinho early in the second half.
Speaking to Brazilian network Ge Globo, Melo explained that Fabinho’s value does not lie in great physical effort or continuous pressure on the opposition, but in his tactical intelligence and ability to read the flow of the game and control the rhythm of the game.
Melo said: “Fabinho came on and he wasn’t a player who relied on continuous runs or strong rushes to win the ball back, but he imposed himself in midfield superbly.”
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“His positioning was perfect and his reading of the match was excellent. As soon as he came on, Brazil’s game clearly changed and the team began to dominate the ball more with the quality and experience he possessed. He definitely saved us.”
The former Brazil star noted that Fabinho’s influence was directly reflected in the team’s performance, as he gave his teammates more composure and the ability to build play, which helped reduce the Moroccan team’s advantage in periods of the match.
Melo concluded by stressing that Morocco came back strongly in the final minutes and managed to regain the initiative, but at the same time he emphasized that Fabinho’s participation was an important turning point in the game and helped Brazil avoid many of the problems he faced before coming on.
