Pedro Emanuel cites Arsenal's path after Vasco's Copa do Brasil semifinal exit

Vasco coach Pedro Emanuel used Premier League champions Arsenal as an example of learning at least twice in his post-match press conference, after his side was knocked out of the Copa do Brasil by Palmeiras in the semifinal on Sunday. Vasco won 2-1 in normal time but lost the shootout 5-4.

Pride in the run

The Portuguese coach said he felt sadness at the exit but also pride in his team's performance. He described the tie as a real final and said his players had done everything within their reach to reach the decision. He added that facing a very competent opponent was part of the growth of clubs like Vasco, which have been big before and want to be big again.

Repeated near misses

The comparison with Arsenal stems from Vasco's recent setbacks. This is the third consecutive year Vasco has reached an advanced stage of the Copa do Brasil: they were semifinalists in 2024, runners-up last year, and lost in the semifinal this time. Earlier this year, the club was also eliminated by Boca Juniors in the Copa Sudamericana semifinals.

Pedro Emanuel said he had seen comments by Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães, who said that one of the keys to his club's success was finishing as English runners-up four times before finding the formula to win the title. The coach said everything is part of growth and that Vasco, which he said was in a better place than four months ago, is not yet where it wants to be.

Arsenal's own wait

Arsenal also went through a similar period before winning the Premier League in May. Before that, the club had finished as runners-up four times in a row behind Manchester City, yet its board kept its confidence in the project.

In a July 2025 interview with The Athletic, before the season in which Arsenal won the title, Gabriel Magalhães said the club had come close to winning trophies in recent years but had always let them slip at the end. He said he had total confidence in the club and in what was being built, and that the team had good chances of leaving with a trophy.

Looking ahead at Vasco

Internally, the repeated near misses are seen as a sign that Vasco is on the right path toward a title, which would end a drought of 11 years without a trophy. Expectations for next year center on greater investment in football, following the entry of Almirante Participações, the company of businessman Marcos Lamacchia, into the club's SAF. Lamacchia watched the match against Palmeiras among the fans at São Januário.