"It's an ambition, I don't deny it", says Jorge Jesus about coaching the Brazilian team

Botafogo is the third team qualified for the Libertadores semi-finals. This Wednesday (25), the Rio team drew 1-1 with São Paulo, at Morumbi. In the first leg, the teams were 0-0, at the Nilton Santos stadium. Therefore, the duel ended in a penalty shootout, with John Textor's club getting the better of the shots.

Now, Botafogo awaits the winner of the duel between Flamengo and Peñarol (URU), who face each other in this Thursday (26), in Montevideo. The semi-finals are scheduled to take place in the weeks of October 23rd on the way out, and 10/30 on the way back. The big decision, in Buenos Aires, will be on November 30th.

THE SEMIFINALS

So, the semifinals will be as follows. Atlético-MG faces River Plate (ARG), going to Minas Gerais and returning to Buenos Aires. Botafogo is waiting for Flamengo or Peñarol. What is defined is that the first duel will take place at Engenhão, with the return at Maracanã or Campeón del Siglo.

To face Botafogo, Flamengo needs a turnaround. As they lost 1-0 at Maracanã, the red and black team needs to reverse in Uruguay, against Peñarol. The ball starts at 7pm (Brasília time).

The Flamengo remains firm in its position of shielding coach Tite, regardless of the result of the next clash against Peñarol in the Libertadores. The club's board of directors has already decided that, even in the case of elimination, there will be no changes in the technical command. The decision is clear: Tite will remain in office, with the expectation of fulfilling his contract until the end, as established since his hiring.

Protection for Tite is nothing new within Flamengo, which has a policy of invest in the continuity of the work of its technicians, avoiding sudden changes based only on immediate results. This stance was reinforced in recent days, when the team faced a series of protests and criticism from fans after some performances below expectations. Even with the external pressure, the board made it clear that it is not considering dismissing the coach, as it believes in the long-term project.

FLAMENGO HAS CRISIS CONTROL

< The match against Peñarol, which will take place in Uruguay, will be decisive for Flamengo's stay in the continental competition. However, internally, the board treats the game as a stage in a larger process, and not as a "watershed" for Tite's future at the club. Confidence in the coach's work is based not only on his experience and past achievements, but also on the conviction that constant changes in technical command are not the solution to the challenges faced by the club.

The decision to bank Tite's continuity, even in the face of possible elimination, is not common in Brazilian football, where the culture of rapid coach changes is predominant. In Flamengo, however, management understands that a solid, long-term project depends on stability in command. This type of stance has already been adopted in previous moments, with other coaches, when the board chose to give time to the work so that results would emerge in the medium and long term.

Flamengo has kept Jorge Jesus as a frequent target since the historic 2019 season. However, bringing him back, currently at Al-Hilal, would not be an easy task, especially due to the coach's high salary, which is among the highest paid in the world.

According to information from journalist Jorge Nicola, the termination fine to remove "Mister" from the Arab club is 40 million reais. Furthermore, it would be necessary to negotiate a new salary, as Jesus currently earns around 70 million reais per year, tax-free, which is equivalent to more than 6 million reais per month. The Portuguese's name resurfaced at Flamengo by candidates for election at the club.

If Flamengo or any other Brazilian club managed to sign him, Jesus would become the highest paid football coach on the continent, surpassing Abel Ferreira, coach from Palmeiras, who receives around 3 million reais per month.

Possible competition from the Brazilian team for Jorge Jesus

With Tite's situation uncertain to lead Flamengo in 2025, Jorge Jesus' name begins to be mentioned behind the scenes. However, the Brazilian team could also enter the dispute for the coach. Despite the recent arrival of Dorival Júnior at the helm of the national team, there is suspicion within the CBF about the continuity of his work.

Therefore, Jorge Jesus becomes a coveted target for both Flamengo and the Brazilian team, both of whom are aware that they will have to make a considerable investment if they want to rely on the technician.