Brazil was five-time world champion without a foreign coach, says Abel Braga about Tite’s succession

In South America, a journalist easily talking to a “big” coach – and the day before the start of the championship – is not a utopia. Between training sessions and meetings, and without damage control by a communication director, Abel Braga, Fluminense coach, agreed to speak with Público in a phone call in which he helped to preview the Brazilian Championship that started on Saturday (9).

In addition to what he expects from his Fluminense, the 69-year-old coach, who has already passed through Portugal, addressed the desire (already somewhat smoky) to return to the Portuguese league, the future of the Brazilian team and the achievements of Abel Ferreira and Jorge Jesus in Brazil . And he also offered advice to Portuguese coaches who made a “pilgrimage” to the Brazilian.

The press points out Palmeiras, Atlético Mineiro and Flamengo as the main favorites for the title. Do you agree with this view? At squad level, financially and group size, these three are a little above the rest. But attention: this does not mean that they are champions. There is always room for surprises.

Could Fluminense be one of those surprises? Of course yes. Favoritism is always given to the three [Mineiro, Flamengo e Palmeiras], but São Paulo, Corinthians and Fluminense have the capacity to fight. Among those three, one, two or three teams will always intrude. But of course now, before starting, they have favoritism, because of the quality and number of players.

Does it refer to the various solutions in the squad? This. Note: we finished the state championship on Sunday (3), we had a game in the Copa Sudamericana on Wednesday (6) and Saturday we played the Brazilian. There are players who can’t stand this. The number of players those three teams have is very useful.

Abel Braga led Fluminense to the State Championship ten years after the last one, which had also been with you. What is the secret in this club? The last three Rio titles were with me. There is a big identity. It was here that I started playing football at the age of 15. Then I left for Vasco and PSG, but this is where it all started. For example: the wake of the son I lost was at the clubhouse. There is a very strong identity between me and Fluminense and that helps.

Abel once said that when he went to Flamengo he could change the club with Dedé and Felipe Melo. He ended up not getting any, but now, at Fluminense, he really managed to take Felipe, who is a player adored by some and hated by others. What do you see useful in it? It is a winner, with many titles. Second, he has a very good sense of leadership. It helped us a lot and will continue to help.

Is it a matter of leadership? Yes, we needed more leadership in the team. We have Fred and a few others, but nobody like Felipe. And then he has a very good game read. With him we can make a three-way exit and then he advances to the steering wheel.

Is this three-way outing also in fashion in Brazil? In Europe and Portugal it is already used a lot…

Yes here too. Now almost all teams make a three-way exit. Me, now that I lost Felipe [lesionado], I even have three centrals. And we have had a fabulous average of goals conceded. Having that defensive security is really good.

If you had to give two names for the Portuguese to be aware of in this Brazilian, what would they be? One from your Fluminense and one from another team. The one who will explode will be André, my steering wheel at Fluminense. He is something abnormal. I also have Jhon Arias here, a Colombian boy who can go very far. From another team, I would say Raphael Veiga, from Palmeiras, who scores goals all the time. They will be players who will fight to be the best in the league.

The championship will have four Portuguese coaches, three of them newcomers. What, in his opinion, is the main characteristic of Brazilian football that the Portuguese will have to adapt to? There are two fundamental things. One is that the Brazilian player doesn’t have the reading of the game that you have there. Tactical part fails and needs a lot of repetition. The player here who has game reading is privileged. The other thing they have to get used to is the press. Here there is a lot of ups and downs. If you win, it’s good. Only victory matters, as if the opponent were to play.

​Abel Ferreira has already suffered from this… IT’S. Abel had questions he didn’t like. And I, as I get along well with him, sent him a message and said: “You’d better get used to it, there’s a lot of madness and passion here.” There in Europe and Portugal there is great respect. The coach’s decisions are sovereign. Not here.

Do you think this arrival of Portuguese, after Jesus and Abel, is positive or negative for the Brazilian league? I think it’s good, because for six and a half years I was treated extremely well when I trained outside. I have affection and respect for the Portuguese and we have to know how to receive. The Portuguese class of coaches has to take advantage of this moment, after Jesus did very well here. And Abel, today, lives with unanimity. He is doing an incredible job and Palmeiras plays with their eyes closed. He changes everything, as he did now in Libertadores, and wins.

And what do you think of Paulo Sousa, who is not getting off to a good start at Flamengo? Paulo is a fellow with extraordinary knowledge. The team hasn’t adapted well yet, but for us opponents it’s a very difficult tactical model: we never know whether to press high or low. When I was in Portugal there was already a good school, but with many Brazilians. Now is the time for this generation of Portuguese.

Do you agree with that view that many have that the Brazilian coach is outdated and that the Portuguese is more evolved? I do not agree. I agree with the ability of the Portuguese, who do extraordinary work, but I disagree with the Brazilians being late. I just won my 30th title and there are so many young coaches here in Brazil. And Jair Ventura, from Juventude? Very good. And Marquinhos, in America? Very good. What about Zé Ricardo, from Vasco? Very good. And what about Bragantino’s Barbieri? Very good. All are good, but here the situation is complicated because as the Portuguese showed service so it became like “now it has to be Portuguese”.

Do you miss Portugal? Would you like to come back one day? When I worked at Belenenses and Famalicão [década de 90] that moment was more propitious, but who knows? The desire continues, but I no longer have it in my head. I believe more that I will return to Switzerland, because I have now done an incredible job in Lugano, very fast. But I’m always open. I go to Portugal whenever I can travel.

The Brazilian team will change coaches. Do you think it could be an option? Who would not like? But honestly who will leave there is the greatest Brazilian coach today. Tite is making the selection play in a very subtle way, with tactical changes. It’s a shame you left.

And do you think a foreigner would be a good option? Jorge Jesus has already been mentioned… I don’t believe a foreigner will come, for one reason: Brazil has been world champion five times and has never been with a foreigner.