In a recent press conference, Arsenal’s Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhães opened up on a multitude of subjects ranging from his club’s Premier League title ambitions to Brazil’s new tactical approach under manager Fernando Diniz.
The centre-back, who has been showing his worth both for Arsenal and the Brazil national team, offered a peek into his life on and off the pitch.
Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães, who has secured a spot in Brazil’s starting line-up, addressed the media ahead of Brazil’s match against Uruguay.
The centre-back discussed a range of topics, including his club’s ambitions for the Premier League title and his experiences under both Brazil manager Fernando Diniz and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
Gabriel Magalhães spoke about the coaching similarities between Diniz and Arteta, stating: “Nowadays, that’s what football asks of you, to have possession of the ball and play out wide.”
He elaborated, “Of course, there are some things that are similar to the work we do at Arsenal, but there are some things that are different. Every day we try to learn as much as we can from Diniz, a spectacular person who is here to help everyone.”
When questioned about the disappointment of Arsenal not securing the Premier League title last season, Magalhães was optimistic. “I know that everything is in God’s time. Last year we lost a title, we were sad, but this season we’ve started well, winning a title.
He then touched on scoring his first goal for Brazil, saying, “I’m certainly happy about my first goal in the Seleção shirt, it’s a dream for me and my family to be here. I’m very happy with what I’m experiencing.
Gabriel also talked about facing Uruguay’s skilled players in the upcoming match. “We know their quality, players who have played at a very high level, but we have to be prepared for what lies ahead. I’m at Arsenal and I always come up against great players, that’s no problem. I’ve played against Darwin Nuñez, we know his quality, but he’s got a clear head, it’s going to be a tough game, but we’re prepared,” added Magalhães.