Aves was the perfect example of a successful change of coach, this season. When José Mota left in mid January, Aves seemed heading for relegation with only three victories in half season.
Inácio led the team for the second part of the season and collected twice the points the club had in the first part, with an arguably weakened squad after some important departures in January.
With Mota, the team seemed unorganized and irregular; there wasn’t a defined first team and style. When three massively important players left in January (El Adoua Amilton and Nildo), the fans feared the worst.
That was like a blessing in disguise, though, as it was the opportunity for other players to stand up. With Inácio’s ultra realistic approach, Mama Baldé and Derley were more comfortable and expressive in attack. Luquinha was brought from B team and became an instant hit.
The back-three became Inácio’s trademark, and they were very solid, making up for the lack of good defensive cover from the midfielders. Rodrigo’s energetic performances on the right channel gave the team an extra edge.
Inácio is aware that he will need to diversify in the upcoming season to avoid predictability from his simplistic style. The experienced coach will relish the fact that he will have an entire pre-season to make the necessary adjustements.
