Brazilian coach Carlo Ancelotti is hopeful Raphinha will help to sharpen the attack of his team when they are confronted with Paraguay at home, the Italian said after the aimless trekking on Thursday with Ecuador.
Ancelotti's long -awaited debut as manager of Brazil ended in frustration, while his side worked as a scoreless draw against Sebastian Beccacece's Ecuador in Guayaquil, where they were the second best for large pieces, despite their wealth of talent.
“I think the pitch conditions here have been made a bit tricky to play a more complicated game from the back. It was more difficult to control the ball,” Ancelotti said reporters after the game.
“That said, we had two very good chances, with Vinicius JR, with Casemiro in the second half. Yes, we could have done better in attack, but you also have to take the power of the opponent into account.
“Ecuador played a very good game, just like we did … The journeys here are really long, that takes its toll a bit.”
The Italian manager, who appointed last month, is under considerable pressure, because he is confronted with the heavy task of trying back the five times world champions Brazil to form.
The top six teams qualify directly for next year's World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Brazil remains in fourth place with 22 points in the continental rankings.
They will be confronted on Tuesday with Paraguay in Sao Paulo, where Barcelona wing player Raphinha will appear after missing the match in Ecuador.
“There is of course room to improve … I am sure we will also improve in the attack, because today we missed a very important player. That is Raphinha, who will be back, Ancelotti added.
“I think the match against Paraguay will be different, because we will have more opportunity to control the game. We have to play at a higher pace, with more exercise, more intensity.
“I think the quality of the players is very high, so even if we don't have much time to work, we still have that potential.”