Presidente do Santos justifica partida na arena do Corinthians e agradece Augusto Melo.

Neo Química Arena before the Corinthians game against Portuguesa, for the Paulistão. The Santos will play the semifinal of the Paulista Championship, against Red Bull Bragantino, at the Neo Química Arena. President Marcelo Teixeira justified the choice of Santos to leave Vila Belmiro and thanked Augusto Melo, president of Corinthians. "The importance of reaching a semifinal weighed heavily. Santos has a work and a project for 2024. We talked a lot. I had a long conversation with Carille. He is passing on this positioning to the players. The athletes are very well prepared. My preference and the team's is always to play at Vila, which is our home. However, we reached certain stages, like a semi-final of the Paulistão, where you have to have a plan combined with an ambition to reach a decision, respecting Bragantino, which has a different two-year job from ours," he said. "Santos finally reached a Paulista semi and that's why we want to play in São Paulo, we want a larger audience, which will be important. Santos has never been the home team at Neo Química. I thank President Augusto Melo, who spared no effort to accommodate the financial issue," he expanded. "Money did not speak louder. We have experienced, prepared players, and some are even used to playing at Neo Química. The decision was joint and very well thought out. The decision is also in the technical aspect. We have a goal outlined. We want to decide the championship," he added.

Marcelo Teixeira also said that Alvinegro Praiano will provide full support to fans who want to go to the game in the São Paulo capital, but stressed that tickets will not be offered at promotional prices, as was the case in the 2-1 victory over São Bernardo, in Morumbi. "We need the support of our fans. We will make all logistics to facilitate the presence of the fan. There will be no promotions, as happened at Morumbi. We are studying what Corinthians practices and accommodating these values according to Santos' intention. There was already an understanding for the space of the visiting fans. It will be in the same space," he said. Finally, the president of Santos celebrated the place in the Paulistão semifinal. "It is the rescue of self-esteem, confidence, and reaching goals. We achieved two goals in a space of 90 days already. It is a reason to be celebrated. We are working and walking the right path," he concluded. The game against Red Bull Bragantino will therefore be on Thursday of next week, at 8:30 pm, at the Neo Química Arena. Whoever advances will face Palmeiras or Novorizontino in the final.