A complete rollercoaster, this season. Peixe overcame extreme difficulties and was very close to glory. Cuca was a true miracle-maker, picking up a very fragile and short squad and bringing up to really high standards.
With the extraordinaire Sampaoli, Santos brought the Portuguese Jesualdo Ferreira hoping he could follow the steps of Jorge Jesus in Flamengo in 2019. However, only a couple of weeks after arriving, Jesualdo knew he had signed with a bankrupted club that was given a Fifa ban for transfers due to debts to other clubs.
Unable to sign with new players and with a few months late in payment to current squad, there were fears about a massive disband. In the meantime, Santos had been knocked-out from ‘Paulistão’. Santos seemed to be heading to collapse and Jesualdo was sacked even before the season started.
Cuca was brought in, and he managed to restore the squad’s confidence. After all, only Everson and Sasha had left and, despite all the problems, Marinho, Soteldo, Kaio Jorge, Alison, Pituca and Lucas Veríssimo were still on board.
Cuca had to make the most of a strong XI with practically no bench. Rotation was never an option, unless the game was not a priority. At the same time Santos was doing quite better than expected in league, they were doing even better in the almighty competition Libertadores.
Peixe reached the final of the big competition which meant that reserve lineup was to be used in many rounds, in Série A. A series of compromising defeats were picked in the meantime, and it was all for (almost) nothing, since in the end Santos lost the final to rivals Palmeiras.
It was worth the ride, though, and Santos coach and players could end the season as true heroes, making a positive run when catastrophe was announced.
Fans and club should make no mistake, though. The team remains in deep financial problems, and will face an equally tough season next year, this time without Cuca, who is looking for a break after the highly consuming year.
