Is the season over for Corinthians? Behind the scenes of Timão’s future

Five coaches have worked for Corinthians throughout this season. They were: Fernando Lázaro, Cuca, Danilo, Vanderlei Luxemburgo and Mano Menezes. On all four lines, the black and white team failed to please at any time, suffered throughout the year and saw their last chance at the title slip away against Fortaleza, in the semi-final of the Copa Sudamericana, on Tuesday night.

Having completed their dream of lifting the continental trophy, Corinthians will now have relevant decisions on and off the field. In the Brazilian Championship, the black and white team occupies a modest 13th position, with 30 points, four more than Vasco, the team that opens the relegation zone. There are 13 games left until the end of the tournament and there are two clear objectives: to avoid being relegated and to win a place in a continental competition in 2024, such as the Libertadores.

Next Saturday, at 9pm, Corinthians will face Flamengo, at the Neo Química Arena, in São Paulo, for the 26th round of the Brasileirão. The duel promises to be intense given the contexts experienced by the two clubs with the biggest fans in the country. The hosts need to distance themselves from the relegation zone and forget about the new elimination, while the red and black teams are at the top of the table, but live under distrust. until they agreed on a replacement for coach Jorge Sampaoli. Tite is about to be announced.

In the next rounds, Corinthians will still face direct rivals in the fight against defeat. América-MG, Cuiabá, Santos, Bahia, Vasco, Inter and Coritiba are at the bottom of the table and compete with the black and white team for places in the 2024 Series A. The good news is that Mano Menezes will have more time to work on the squad and change parts. Try a pattern and keep the ball.

Corinthians eliminations in 2023

Ituano, São Paulo and Fortaleza were Corinthians’ tormentors in 2023. The black and white team fell to their opponent from the interior of São Paulo in the quarterfinals of the State Championship. In the Copa do Brasil, he saw his arch-rival get the better of him and turn the match around in the semi-finals. The hope of a single trophy was restricted to the South American Championship, but the 1-1 draw in the first leg, in Itaquera, the consequent dismissal of Luxemburgo and the hiring of Mano and the poor performance in the last rounds prevented optimism from taking over Parque São George.

In Fortaleza, the tricolor team reigned and were overwhelming in the first minutes of the second half to defeat Corinthians and take a place in the final. Corinthians attacks were rare.

As he has only been in charge for a week, Mano Menezes has not yet had time to make changes to the team. After the elimination, the coach was asked about the need for new additions to the squad in order to have a reaction in the Brasileirão. The gaucho dodged and said that it was not the best time to make such an assessment.

“It is always inappropriate to talk about an elimination that will end one cycle or another. I said in the presentation that we are here to do a job. In football, in Brazil especially, cycles end, every year you have to create a new team, but we’re going to work on the rest of the Brasileirão to make a better team”, said the coach.

Fábio Santos announces end of career

At 38 years old, left-back Fábio Santos has accumulated mistakes and heard repeated criticism from the fans. When leaving the field, in the capital of Ceará, he appeared emotional. “I know the end of my career is coming. More than anyone I wanted this title to close with a flourish. I returned to the club at a time when I needed it. It’s been a very difficult year, I never hid. It’s difficult to speak from the head hot, but now I’m trying to find motivation to finish this season and end my career in a dignified way, for everything I built within the club. I just apologize to the fans”, he stated.

Politics shakes up behind the scenes at Parque São Jorge

Politics is also at an effervescent moment in Parque São Jorge. On November 25, Corinthians members will go to the polls to choose a new president for a three-year term (2024 to 2026). Duílio Monteiro Alves will end his tenure without winning titles with the men’s professional team. It is the first time that a Corinthians star ends a term without trophies in 36 years. Roberto Pasqua, between 1985 and 1987, also went blank.

“We are very sad, once again eliminated in the semi-final. We apologize to the fans for not repaying everything they did for us. They deserved much more. What is being done in management is very clear, but today the fans are very upset. The club is much better structured, but in football we don’t make the best decisions, we go through many coaches… That’s the reason for the eliminations. I hope the next president makes better decisions up front”, said Duílio after the fall in South America.

The current candidate is André Luiz Oliveira, André Negão, a name close to Andrés Sánchez and chosen to lead the group that has commanded the black and white administration since 2007. Augusto Melo is the opposition representative. He has already expressed discomfort with the signing of Mano Menezes without his consent and plans a complete overhaul of the squad for 2024.

Check out Corinthians’ games until the end of the season:

07/10 – Corinthians x Flamengo

10/18 – Fluminense x Corinthians

21/10 – Corinthians x América-MG

24/10 – Cuiabá x Corinthians

28/10 – Corinthians x Santos*

01/11 – Corinthians x Athletico-PR*

04/11 – Red Bull Bragantino x Corinthians*

08/11 – Corinthians x Atlético-MG*

11/11 – Grêmio x Corinthians*

22/11 – Corinthians x Bahia*

25/11 – Vasco x Corinthians*

29/11 – Corinthians x Inter*

03/12 – Coritiba x Corinthians*

*games with provisional dates.