MÁRIO JORGE REGRETS LEAVING AS A MID IN THE DUEL AGAINST CORINTHIANS: "WE LOST THE REFERENCE"

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.

Mário Jorge spent eight years at in charge of the most diverse youth categories at Flamengo. Between jewels and great memories with titles, the coach experienced the most difficult moment of his career in February 2019, when the accommodation where 10 boys slept caught fire in Ninho do Urubu. He knew nine of them and needed support to move forward. Five years later, he won a Libertadores in the under-20s with one of the survivors, Rayan Lucas.

"It was the most difficult moment of my professional career. I thought about stopping and giving up. What would it be like to go through that place all The days? It wasn't easy, but our psychologists at the time [Duda and Michele] were fantastic, they gave me a lot of support and strength to continue. our 10'. There was a general mobilization and involvement.", said Mário Jorge.

Mário left Flamengo to take over the Saudi Arabian Under-17 team. Not before leaving the last "legacy" behind: the red-and-black's newest jewel is the boy Lorran, used mainly during the Copa América to replace Arrascaeta. His debut for the top team also marked the coach's first game in charge of the professional team, against Audax, in 2023.

"We had many memorable moments, but making Lorran's professional debut was special. It was my debut at Maracanã in the first team. Matheus França scored the goal and asked me to participate in the interview afterwards. Those were some of the memorable moments."

Mário Jorge defended Lorran. and preached patience The boy suffered pressure from the fans after some bad performances, but he has special attention from the committee so as not to feel the good or the bad phase.

"He's a talent, we have to be patient. Many Sometimes expectations are created and moments of instability happen to everyone. He is a fantastic boy, great in everyday life and will mature. Some athletes can do this sooner, others take a little more time. He can reach the highest level, but you need to be patient."

Flamengo tries to repeat the success of the base transition which he had with Mário Jorge now with Filipe Luís. The coach was important within the club's system to monitor and recommend the young people who would train with the professional. The mission was left to the former player, who took over the under-20 team.

"Everyone is important. But on a daily basis we had direct contact with the professional, mainly through Cléber Xavier and Luiz Carlos. Now at the base, with Noval and Gilberto. We had this collaboration to make decisions about which athletes would train professionally, go to the game. The relationship was very good and communication was very clear."

At the professional level, Mário Jorge managed Flamengo on an interim basis on eight occasions. There were three wins, four draws and one defeat. The best moment at the club, however, was winning the U20 Libertadores in March, against Boca Juniors.

"The first time was very difficult. Nervousness, anxiety and worry. Because it was a delicate moment post-Carioca Championship. But I had a lot of support to make decisions. The second time it was a little more 'calm', as there was already contact with the players and we had, between one game and the next, four training sessions. the opportunity to put some of our ideas forward and the games against Bahia and Corinthians were a great moment."