Opinion – Tostão: Foreign technicians realized that Brazil is not for beginners

Foreign coaches, Portuguese and South American, are getting to know –or are getting to know, as they say, delicately, in Portugal– the particularities and idiosyncrasies of Brazilian football.

The foreign coaches studied and read a lot about the bad Brazilian calendar, but they didn’t know it was so bad, with so many games in a row, several competitions at the same time that don’t stop even when the South American teams play, long trips and many bad lawns. Therefore, they are obliged to change players every match.

The foreign coaches were very well informed about the balance in the Brasileirão, but they were not aware of the enormous difficulties of conquering victories, even when playing at home, against inferior teams. Fortaleza, which only has one point in the championship and is in a difficult situation in Libertadores, played better than Corinthians, River Plate and São Paulo, but did not win, because they do not have the same individual quality as their opponents nor a larger squad to take turns for some. players.

Foreign coaches were aware of the aggressiveness of many Brazilian fans, the exaggerated change of coaches and the endless daily discussions in the press about the work of coaches, with excessive praise and technical and tactical criticism, as if football were an exact, arithmetical sport. , of cause and consequence, but they realized that it is more than they expected.

The foreign coaches were aware of the vices accumulated over decades and of some outdated behaviors, but they were not aware of the enormous difficulties, resistance, to make a team attack and defend as a block, with few spaces between sectors, and execute the pressure marking in the entire field, with the intention of recovering the ball faster and closer to the opponent’s goal.

Foreign coaches teach a lot in tactical strategies and interviews, but they also learn. Vítor Pereira, who dreamed of making Corinthians play with a lot of possession and dominance of the game, realized that sometimes you have to do it differently, put four defenders, defend behind and, if you can, score a goal on the counter. attack, as he did against Bragantino.

Corinthians’ last 1-0 wins were praised for remembering the time of coach Fábio Carille, when the team won the national title. It shouldn’t be there. Corinthians, if they want to be Brazilian champions, need to play more, as a 1-0 victory is very close to a draw and defeat.

Foreign coaches have already learned that Brazilian football and Brazil are not for beginners, as Antônio Carlos Jobim said.

Messages

Manchester City fans cheered Guardiola and named De Bruyne the best player in their 5-0 Premier League rout against Newcastle, days after their disappointing Champions League exit.

I deduce, without any certainty, that there were two subliminal messages, one of thanks, one of recognition of the exceptional work of Guardiola, responsible for the most fascinating collective game in world football. Another message, that the team is essential, but that, in the big moments, the presence of special players is essential, like De Bruyne, who should not have been substituted during the match against Real Madrid. Guardiola is an exceptional coach, but no one is immune to criticism.