ALEXANDRE ARAUJO, BRUNO BRAZ AND LUIZA SÁ
RIO DE JANEIRO, RJ (UOL/FOLHAPRESS)
Morumbi brings good memories to Flamengo. It was at the Tricolor stadium, in the 2020 Brazilian Championship, that the red-black team became champions despite a 2-1 defeat to São Paulo. What many don’t know, however, is that coach Rogério Ceni, a tricolor idol who led the Gávea team, would almost leave his name marked in Flamengo’s history. The report found that on more than one occasion the coach made the position available after moments of pressure and demands, when the squad went through unstable situations during the season.
Flamengo’s football vice-president, Marcos Braz – involved in controversy this week due to a fight in a shopping mall – was the manager who most “put his foot down” for the coach’s stay, convincing the commander not to “throw in the towel” believing that the team would be champions.
Ceni decided to stay and, after winning the title with a 0-0 draw between Internacional and Corinthians, he celebrated timidly out of respect for São Paulo, a club in which he is one of the greatest idols in history. In the locker room, however, he heard from Braz: “I told you to stay that you would be champion.”
The following year, when the coach was already in charge of São Paulo and would meet Flamengo again in the semi-final of the Copa do Brasil, Flamengo’s football vice-president made a point of quoting him after the draw for the coaches at the CBF:
“The trophy is beautiful, but we’re not even in the final. We have to respect São Paulo, São Paulo’s history and more than that: respect a coach who is currently on the other side, but who was Brazilian champion, the Supercup and the Carioca here. So, Flamengo has to respect history and who is on the other side so that we can, safely and calmly, try to reach a final and seek a title as important as the Copa do Brasil”.
CENI WAS FIRED AT MORNING
Rogério Ceni remained at Flamengo for another four months, until he was fired in June, after disappointing results in the Brazilian Championship and strong pressure from the fans.
With internal controversies that leaked into the press, the coach was informed of his dismissal during the early hours of the morning and the official announcement of his departure on Red-Negra social media took place at 2:46 am on a Saturday.
Ceni, however, enjoys prestige with many Flamengo players remaining from that time. He came to live in CT Ninho do Urubu to adapt to the environment.
DEFEAT IS NO LONGER USE
São Paulo and Flamengo decide the Copa do Brasil this Sunday (24), at 4pm, in Morumbi (SP), and only one victory matters for the red-black club, unlike 2020, when they won the title at the tricolor stadium even with a 2-1 defeat.
As they lost in the first game, at Maracanã (RJ), 1-0, the Gávea team needs to win by two goals or more to be champions, or at least one to take the decision to penalties.
The post São Paulo idol thought about leaving Flamengo before winning the title at Morumbi appeared first in Jornal de Brasília.
Source link
THE NAIS IS OFFICIAL EDITOR ON NAIS NEWS