RIO DE JANEIRO, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Veteran Sao Paulo central defender Joao Miranda, 36, has urged his teammates to remain humble and grounded after an impressive start to the 2021 season.

The six-time Brazilian Serie A champions have won each of their past seven matches under new manager Hernan Crespo, including a 3-0 win at Peru's Sporting Cristal in their opening Copa Libertadores group match last week.

"It's important to enjoy the victories, but we have to keep our feet on the ground because the Copa Libertadores is different and we know that it's very important to start well," Miranda told Sao Paulo's official website.

Miranda, who returned to his original club in January after a spell with Jiangsu FC in the Chinese Super League, said he has relished the chance to play as one of three center backs in Crespo's preferred 3-5-2 formation.

The former Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan defender is likely to again line up alongside Robert Arboleda and Bruno Alves when Sao Paulo host Uruguay's Rentistas in their next Copa Libertadores fixture on Thursday.

"In Europe, we always played 4-4-2 but in China our shape was 3-5-2. It is a tactical formation that I know and that I've had success with," he added. Enditem

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