Opinion – Sandro Macedo: Stay, Vítor Pereira… but only if you have the balls

One of the biggest contributions of the Portuguese coaches in this prolific period in Serie A of the Brazilian Championship is the post-match press conferences.

Invariably we have tactics lessons from Abel Ferreira, Vítor Pereira or Luís Castro; and honorable mentions for António Oliveira. Even in irritation the answers are better.

Abel and VP have already shown their grumpy face, often mixed with sincericide, in press conferences. If Abel is more bellicose at the edge of the field, apparently, VP arrives more armed at interviews. Of course, there is the not small detail that VP has lost more games than Abel.

The dear Vítor Pereira has already made some ugly skids on the way. Training Corinthians is not easy, as the philosopher would say… Socrates, perhaps.

Once, when asked about complaints from a player who was not a starter, he sent a “I also wanted to coach Liverpool, but I can’t”. It’s practically a pie in the face. This humble columnist even understood the humor in VP’s little reply, but the crowd didn’t like it, and he had to apologize.

Another time, after a defeat to Palmeiras, some friend from the press (always them), asked if the coach feared being fired. “You must be kidding me. Do you know how much money I have in the bank, buddy?” Pie in the face 2.

VP once again apologized to the crowd.

But by the post-game press conference this Wednesday (26), after the defeat to Fluminense, the Portuguese doesn’t have to apologize.

Okay, the only question that everyone who follows Corinthians wants to ask is: Will Vítor Pereira renew? The problem is that the mister has serious personal issues involved, including his mother-in-law’s illness, which would prevent his wife from moving to Brazil.

President Duilio Monteiro Alves himself, probably anticipating the storm that would follow, appeared at the press conference and warned: “This year, the championship ends in mid-November, so we have time to make decisions.” And then he added: “Vítor has a family issue to resolve. I ask that the fans understand…”

But the thirsty crowd in front of Duilio and VP wasn’t there to understand.

The first question was already along the lines of “are you only going to answer the president after the Brazilian?”. It was an almost affectionate attempt, but it didn’t work.

Then came the second, in the jugular: “The information [!] that we have is that your wife wants you to go [para Portugal], and you want to stay. Who runs your house, you or your wife?”

It’s one of those moments where a debate is lost, where a Jedi activates a lightsaber, where a large dragon eats a small one.

VP even took off his coat, and probably thought of some Buddhist mantra before the retort. It was as polite as possible. “As I’m more polite than you, I won’t answer”, he said… three times. This time, it was the journalist who used his social media to apologize.

The fact is that Vítor Pereira does have a lot of money in the bank. And he’s got enough that he doesn’t need to have the bag that’s needed to take a few hits below the belt line.

But I would love to see VP a full year in a Brazilian team, with time to train them however he wants, with the signings of the profile he wants. The championship would certainly win. Just look at the difference between Palmeiras de Abel year 2 and that of Abel year 1.

Probably the relationship with the press will not be a factor in the VP decision. Brazilian football needs Portuguese coaches more than they need us at the moment. Or does anyone want to come back here to the “this belongs in football” answers?