Source: Xinhua
Editor: huaxia
2026-02-02 14:42:33
BRASILIA, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Memphis Depay dedicated Corinthians' Supercopa do Brasil title on Sunday to the club's fans, saying their support had helped the team stay focused on football amid ongoing off-field problems.
The Brazilian Serie A side secured its second Supercopa crown after goals from Gabriel Paulista and Yuri Alberto gave it a 2-0 victory over Flamengo at the Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia.
The result came despite a deepening financial crisis, with Corinthians recently reporting debts of around 2.8 billion reais (around 530 million U.S. dollars).
"We play for the fans, they deserve to be happy," the 31-year-old striker told reporters. "We as players are professionals, but the spirit of the fans pushes us to be better. At the club, not every day is happy, but they make sure we stay focused on football. They are always behind us. It is because of their support that we manage to win."
The former Manchester United and Barcelona player said the triumph was deserved and highlighted the team's mental strength in high-pressure situations.
"This team has a lot of courage, it is mentally very strong, because to win titles you need to perform in moments of greatest pressure. Today, we deserved it, we played very well, we won with courage, we pressed a lot," he said.
Sunday's victory marked Corinthians' third trophy since Depay joined the club on a free transfer in September 2024. The Dutch international has scored 19 goals and provided 14 assists across all competitions for the Sao Paulo-based outfit.
Depay also acknowledged the challenges facing the club but praised the unity within the squad.
"A lot of satisfaction, but the club has many problems, and winning, beating Flamengo brings a lot of pressure. The fans travel many hours to watch the game. For me, it is very emotional and important for the club and it shows resilience, because the club is in a difficult financial situation," he added. ■