DORIVAL DEFENDS HIMSELF FROM CONTROVERSY AT THE COPA AMÉRICA: "I NEVER PARTICIPATED IN A PLAYER ROUND"

Coach Dorival Júnior emphasized that he is not in the middle of the circle of players before penalty decisions. The coach defended himself from the controversy created with the elimination of the Brazilian team in the Copa América. After the defeat on penalties against Uruguay, a clip from the game broadcast went viral on social media showing the commander outside the athletes' circle, apparently "sidelined".

Dorival explained that he does not participate in the circles because He doesn't want to bother the players. He stated that he intervenes if he deems it necessary in the face of heightened nervousness or tranquility, but stressed that this was not the case. The squad had been practicing penalties in the days before the knockout duel.

The coach also highlighted that he had already spoken to some athletes privately and that he likes to make the group comfortable. He also said that he was called by the fourth umpire to remove a name from the list of batsmen, as Uruguay had one less player due to expulsion.

Finally, Dorival regretted the criticism that he considered to be malicious towards his stance due to the impact of the scene. The Brazilian commander asked for respect and cited cowardice in comments without "listening to the other side".

In the two-time Copa do Brasil campaigns, the 62-year-old coach did not participate in the players' circle in two penalty decisions when He was in charge of clubs. He adopted a certain distance both in the final of the 2022 edition against Corinthians, leading Flamengo, and in the round of 16 duel last year against Sport, managing São Paulo — both teams would become champions.

What did Dorival say about the topic?

"It's regretful because people evaluate a photo, a gesture, a word, an attitude ... I just ask that there is respect for all professionals. I think I have always understood that journalism has to hear both sides, I was taken by surprise in the interview [when asked about the topic], I didn't know what had happened as an athlete. , I always participated in some penalty decisions, I was always a little away, but together with the group, I listened to that initial debate but tried to concentrate, I had trained to take shots, I wanted to be concentrated and above all calm.

I've never participated in circles because I don't want to disturb players at a time like this. If I feel that the group is nervous or very calm, naturally I have to intervene. That wasn't the case, they were very focused, I had already said something to players in particular, I was looking for Alisson to have a more detailed conversation.

The 4th referee had called me, asking me to make the cut of an athlete because Uruguay had had one sent off. I came back because I didn't know Arana's shirt number, I wasn't sure, I was trying to find him to see the number, but I don't participate in circles. I never did this in other clubs, I want them to feel comfortable, confident, calm, focused and do what they did in training. It wasn't just the day before, we came often.

Unfortunately, the positions taken, the comments that were made, malicious, frivolous, without any connection and without knowing the other side of the coin. I'm really sorry about all this, you're not worthy of professionals, respect us from here, it's the least you can have. They were frivolous to the extreme and even used a certain amount of cowardice, but I'll overlook it, I'm looking ahead and thinking what we can do to improve for the Qualifiers"