Jeez! SAMPAOLI HAS THE 4th WORST PERFORMANCE AMONG FLAMENGO COACHES SINCE 2019

In an interview given after the defeat of Flamengoto Peñarol, 1-0, coach Tite was direct in responding to the boos received by the fans. The statement, marked by a frank tone, exposed the coach's pragmatic vision in relation to demanding fans and the pressure for results. “I respect the fans’ feelings. Of course I feel that (the boos), I'm human”, said Tite, recognizing the fans' frustration in the face of the setback.

Tite's speech reveals that he understands the role of fans as a fundamental part in the context of a club, especially in a team of great expression like Flamengo. By mentioning that the boos affect him as a human being, the coach demonstrates empathy, but does not fail to highlight that the only way to reverse this situation is with achievements on the field. “It can only be reversed in one way”, pointed out the coach.

The response reflects the experience of Titein dealing with pressure who follows the command of great teams in Brazilian football. With successful spells at clubs such as Corinthians, Grêmio and the Brazilian national team itself, the coach has a track record that puts him in a position to understand, perhaps like few others, the relationship between performance on the field and fans' expectations. For him, this connection is clear: “Do you know how to win fans? Do you know how I won over the fans of the other clubs I played for? Win an important title”, he declared.

The phrase highlights the centrality of titles in football, especially in mass clubs like Flamengo. In Brazil, the culture of results is intense, and Tite recognizes that fans have a limited tolerance for negative results. Winning titles, for him, is the key to gaining the support of the fans, and anything other than that results in discontent: “If not, bye.”

This last part of Tite's speech summarizes the characteristic impatience of demanding fans like Flamengo. The coach makes it clear that, without obtaining relevant trophies, the relationship with the fans deteriorates quickly. The pressure is constant and is part of the daily life of those who take on the leadership of top teams. Tite seems, however, to be aware of this scenario and how it needs to be faced.

Tite's statement came after a delicate moment for Flamengo. The defeat to Peñarol, at home, in a group stage match of the Copa Libertadores, raised alarm bells for fans and the coaching staff. Flamengo had high expectations for the season, especially after major reinforcements and the arrival of Tite, a coach with wide recognition on the national and international scene.

The pressure on Flamengo is nothing new. The club, which has one of the biggest fans in the world, is known for its high expectations for titles. The expensive squad, made up of renowned players, also increases this demand. Each stumble is widely covered by the media and amplifies the dissatisfaction of part of the fans, who demand immediate results.

The Copa Libertadores, in particular, has a important meaning for Flamengo and its fans. The continental tournament is seen as one of the club's main objectives each season. Any result other than victory can generate dissatisfaction and pressure on the technical committee, as occurred after the setback against Peñarol.

In this context, Tite's speech not only recognizes the fans' dissatisfaction, but also is realistic in relation to what is expected from a club like Flamengo. The demand for titles is part of the package when taking over a club of this size, and the coach seems to be aware of this when he points out that he will only be able to win the support of the fans with significant victories.

Flamengo drew 1-1 with Vasco in the 26th round of the Brasileirão. This Sunday’s ‘Classic of Millions’ (15) marked the tenth duel of great rivalry faced by Rubro-Negro this season. In this cut, Mais Querido remains undefeated against Vasco and Fluminense, but has two defeats against Botafogo.

In 2024, Flamengo competed in ten classics, divided between Campeonato Carioca and Brasileirão. The team won five wins, three draws and suffered two defeats, thus achieving a 60% success rate against their Rio rivals. Throughout these clashes, Fla scored 14 goals and conceded eight.

02/04/2024 – Vasco 0 x 0 Flamengo – Campeonato Carioca

07/02/2024 – Flamengo 1 x 0 Botafogo – Campeonato Carioca

25/02/2024 – Flamengo 2 x 0 Fluminense – Campeonato Carioca

03/09/2024 – Fluminense 0 x 2 Flamengo – Carioca Championship

03/16/2024 – Flamengo 0 x 0 Fluminense – Carioca Championship

04/28/ 2024 – Flamengo 0 x 2 Botafogo – Brasileirão

02/06/2024 – Vasco 1 x 6 Flamengo – Brasileirão

26/06/2024 – Fluminense 0 x 1 Flamengo – Brasileirão< /p>

18/08/2024 – Botafogo 4 x 1 Flamengo – Brasileirão

15/09/2024 – Flamengo 1 x 1 Vasco – Brasileirão

Even with the 1-1 draw against Vasco last Sunday (15), Flamengo maintained its unbeaten record in the classic in 2024. Rubro-Negro left ahead with a goal from Gerson, but the rival equalized at the end with Coutinho. The aggregate score in clashes against Vasco this season is 7 to 2 in favor of Mengão.

Currently, Flamengo occupies the fourth place in the Brazilian Championship table, with 45 points. Under Tite's command, the team has 13 wins, six draws and six defeats, with 40 goals scored and 29 conceded.

Flamengo returns to the field for the Brasileirão next Sunday (22), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), for the 27th round, when they will face Grêmio in Porto Alegre. Before that, Rubro-Negro will have another important challenge.

Next Thursday (19), Flamengo will face Peñarol (URU) at Maracanã, in a match valid for the quarter-finals of the Libertadores. The ball rolls at 7pm (Brasília time), and Mengão will seek to take the lead in the continental clash.