Opinion – PVC: Sentence by Vítor Pereira opens individual Corinthians

Vítor Pereira recalled Evaristo de Macedo. When he was fired from the national team in 1985, the coach who would become Brazilian champions for Bahia three years later declared: “I’m worried about my US$ 6 million in the bank.” The biggest sin of this phrase is individualism.

The Portuguese coach showed how things at Corinthians were discussed from an individual, not a collective point of view: “You can only be kidding me. Do you know how much money I have in the bank?”

Pereira could argue that the work is in progress, that the team needs his command, talk about the collective issues of Corinthians, about the importance of continuing to develop their kids. But not. He preferred to talk about his own bank account.

The big difference between Palmeiras, winner of Saturday’s Derby, in Itaquera, and most of the other teams in the country, is the collective commitment.

In Danilo’s expulsion against Atlético-MG, Rony became Arana’s scorer, and Scarpa, Mariano’s. Dudu played out of position and no one regretted the particular ills.

At Corinthians, it’s not just Vítor Pereira who, in one sentence, says he doesn’t regret the end of work because he has a lot of money in the bank. Willian left Parque São Jorge after the elimination of Libertadores, against Flamengo, and explained that his family received threats.

If there was a scent of success in the next two months, would William go now or wait a little longer? And Róger Guedes just waited for his colleague to leave to put the number 10 shirt on his own shoulders.

Within the squad, none of the leaders judged the change to be individualistic. Both Fábio Santos and Renato Augusto thought it was absolutely natural. But Guedes didn’t even wait for his body to cool down.

It is obvious that the three cases reported above do not form the main reason for the lack of collective play of those who wear the Corinthians mantle. But they are examples.

Corinthians continues to be the team that finishes the least in the Brazilian, the third worst in tackles and crosses, and the best in the championship in dribbling. Nothing more individualistic.

The coach publicly criticizes Róger Guedes when he says he doesn’t know how to close the aisle defensively and gives him the number 10 shirt, as soon as he loses his best technically gifted player.

Despite this, Corinthians stayed alive in three competitions for four months, as the coach proposed. Now, in eight days, he could miss his chance to win the three most coveted trophies of the season if he doesn’t score two goals against Atlético-GO.

Vítor Pereira has 39 games, only 15 victories and eight of them by two goals away – three by three or more of difference. Unlikely to thrash the Copa Sudamericana semifinalist.

It is possible to wait for the end of the year and restructure Corinthians with the Portuguese coach himself. But he only has a contract until December and, as he said, he is not worried about whether he will continue or not. He goes where he wants, when and if he wants to.

It is impossible to form a team in which the ambition is collective with a leader who reacts by exposing his individual desires so clearly.

On the other hand, Palmeiras won the three Derbies of the year, led by Abel Ferreira, the man who proclaims, every day, that “we” must come before “I”.

Fagner error

Despite the debate over Róger Guedes’ recomposition, it was Fagner who missed Roni’s own goal. Wesley and Piquerez made it two against one and the Uruguayan side got the cross. Palmeiras has a huge chance of winning its 11th Brazilian title.

nine points

Palmeiras plays very hard and is the big favorite for the title. The shadow on the way is a memory of 2009. In the 29th round, when Flamengo visited Parque Antarctica, it was in sixth place, nine points behind the leader. It was the biggest turnaround in Brazilian history.