Tostão: Those who don’t know football cling to the numbers – 01/04/2023 – Tostão

The seven Brazilian teams, as usual, are candidates for the Libertadores title. Palmeiras and Flamengo are the strongest, regardless of this weekend’s state results. Flamengo has a better squad, but Palmeiras’ starting lineup has a better set, playing each match as if it were the last, in addition to having the best defense and the best goalkeeper in South America. From the middle to the front, almost all Palmeiras players are among the best in the position.

Gabriel Menino has evolved. I just think that he goes too far before the ball reaches the attack. In his position it is essential to score, build plays and exchange passes. Brazilian football needs to free itself from the cliché that exchanging passes and controlling the ball in midfield delays the quick transition to reach the goal. Wisdom is having the ball and stepping up at the right moment.

Corinthians, due to the quality of the squad, can play better and more regularly. For this, it needs to solve the problem of the lack of affection it has from the fans when it plays away from home. The team, as is common in Brazil, leaves a lot of space between defense and midfield. The midfielders advance, and the defenders are glued to the penalty area. In addition, they got used to playing protected by the midfielders for decades.

Regardless of this Saturday’s (1st) performance against América, Atlético-MG also needs to evolve. The striker duo with Hulk and Paulinho has been the highlight of the team. The three midfielders are more attackers than playmakers, which leaves the midfield underfilled, with the defensive midfielder (Allan or Otávio) alone to score through the center and make the transition from defense to attack.

Fluminense is a team defined in its way of playing, with many good players, which prioritizes approaching the midfield to exchange passes, unlike almost all other Brazilian teams. The team can get even better with Marcelo, as long as expectations are not created that are far above reality, as happened with Daniel Alves in São Paulo. Marcelo’s technical splendor already happened, a long time ago, and is in our memory.

Inter, despite not being in the final of the Campeonato Gaúcho, had a great campaign in the Brasileirão and could repeat it in the Libertadores. There are good players, a defined strategy and a good and experienced coach, Mano Menezes.

Athletico-PR, which is already one of the greats of Brazilian football, has been planning and dreaming big for a long time to be champion of the Libertadores. It is possible, but very unlikely, as the quality of the squad is still much lower than that of the main teams.

Brazilian teams need to evolve, not settle for superiority in South America. There is no more room for goalkeepers who do not know how to play outside the goal, the defenders glued to the penalty area, the large spaces left between sectors, the exaggerated crosses into the area, to count on luck, and the little exchange of passes, no possession of the ball in midfield. There is also no place for violence, racist and homophobic acts and moral and sexual harassment in football stadiums.

There is still no place for the great appreciation of comparisons based on statistics with small samples. Statistics are very important when used correctly. In addition, the game has numerous details, understandings and unexpected factors. Those who do not know, nor know how to observe, cling to the numbers.

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