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Unanimous: Tite has the press on side... now he must recapture Brazilian hearts
Jun 22, 2016 16:12:10
Dunga's successor in the dugout was the outstanding candidate and arrives in the role with a supportive media, who gave Brasil Global Tour their thoughts on the new man It was unanimous. He was head and shoulders above the other candidates, if there ever really were any. New Brazil coach Tite took office on Monday with the support of fans, players and, vitally, a local press that had felt increasingly disillusioned by the Selecao. READ MORE: PROFILE: Meet new Brazil boss Tite | REVEALED: How Tite spent his first day as Brazil coach | PROFILE: Meet Brazil's new Olympic coach The support with which Tite begins the biggest job of his career has been earned through hard work, experience and numerous major titles – this was the first time since the formation of national Brazilian league in 1971 that a championship-winning coach had been asked to oversee the national team. Admiration and respect are the best words to describe the general view of those who gathered at CBF headquarters on this week to quiz Tite on his first day in the job. "We cannot say that say Tite's arrival is timely, because it took too long for him to get here," Globo's Tino Marcos told Brasil Global Tour. "There is nobody else who would be greeted with the unanimity he was and he achieved this at the end of a long story which makes his appointment feel natural." Tino also believes that Tite's decision not to lead Brazil at August's Rio Olympics was a smart one. "I think it was the best attitude; he has arrived after 42 minutes of the second half," he argued. "He has not had two years to oversee the work, analysing the players, like [Rogerio] Micale." Estadao and Terra Esportes journalist Silvio Barsetti, who has covered the national team for a number of years, also sees Tite as the right choice but drew attention to the difficulties that he will now face. "Tite is the best coach actively working in Brazil and, among Brazilians, is clearly the most suitable," Barsetti said. "He is the unanimous choice and may well be the first step to oversee a little improvement of Brazilian football as a whole but, if he wants to work peacefully, he will have to get results. Unlike Dunga, who started work early, Tite will pick it up more in the middle [of a cycle], something much more difficult, as his two first games are qualifiers which could make it tricky." Fox Sports reporter Victorino Chermon is hopeful the results will also arrive off the pitch, which will be vital to the national team reconnecting with a public that has endured a difficult two years. "Tite was the biggest name in Brazil today, he was the one that the people wanted, and the Selecao needed someone from outside who had the approval of the fans, who had their trust. Tite has the sympathy of the people and their confidence that he can see Brazil rediscover their identity with genuine achievements." There was a relative sense of euphoria in the room at Tite's official unveiling, certainly one of relief at the arrival of someone who is seen as the right choice to lead Brazil into the future. Tite's first test will come in September with World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Colombia. It will be a new-look Brazil, one whom Globo's Alexandre Lozetti says will be very much in the image of their new coach. "Tite has a lot of options and I believe the team will be in his image, which means they will defend very well, with a more balanced team that will not leave itself exposed," he predicted. "It may take a while to delight - it will not produce beautiful football and capture imaginations with their magic - but Tite will put together an efficient and contemporary team, something other coaches could not provide." On Tuesday Tite got straight to work as he set off for the United States to cast his eye over Colombia in their Copa America Centenario semi-final against Chile. With less than three months until his first major test, there is little time to waste. Tite needs results. On his way to Rio on Monday, one fan stopped him to say that he is now carrying the hopes of 200 million. It is a population which has grown accustomed to winning. Tite has won the respect and admiration of those looking on; now he must win both football matches and hearts.Back
