RIO DE JANEIRO, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The Corinthians coaching staff dedicded to bar striker Adriano from the team's upcoming Libertadores Cup match on Monday.
The decision comes one day after the player's lackluster performance in the 1-0 loss to Santos.
Head coach Tite opted to sideline Adriano in order to have him return his isolated physical conditioning activities. The coach hopes that one more week of hard cardiovascular conditioning will better prepare him for the Libertadores tournament.
During the match against rivals Santos, Adriano did not play well. Not only did the striker miss a golden opportunity to score in front of the Santos net, but also he appeared sluggish and unmotivated on the field.
Corinthians will face Paraguay's Nacional on March 7. If Adriano is able to prove that he is physically ready to play, the polemic striker may be activated on the club's roster to play against Mexico's Cruz Azul on March 14.