January 12 – New Brazil manager Dorival Jr has asked supporters to rally behind the national team in a bid to get the team back on the rails and regain self-esteem.
On Thursday, Dorival Jr faced the media for the first time after succeeding interim manager Fernando Diniz as head coach of the five-time world champions and he called on the Seleçao’s fans to back the team after a recent run of disappointing results. He stressed how important the role of supporters would be in finding winning ways again, calling Brazil’s the people’s team.
“I’m here representing the most successful team on the planet, which has inspired many and should do the same,” said Dorival.
“Brazilian football is very strong. We learned the path to victory from Brazilian football, we need to find this moment again. The first call-up is the Brazilian fans. So that you can start to live with the team a little more, start trusting the team more. I ask that fans return to participate in the day-to-day life of our team, to experience it as it always was. I also call on all professionals involved in football, Brazilian football needs you. There was talk about the selection of Felipão, Tite, Diniz. It’s not like this. With me, it’s not Dorival’s team, it’s the Brazilian people’s team.”
Under Diniz, Brazil dropped to sixth in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, but Dorival, referencing Mario Zagallo’s desire to always win, wants to see Brazil victorious soon again.
“The player has to understand that it is a very heavy shirt, it is a reference throughout the world,” said Dorival. “We are not in a good position to qualify for the World Cup, we will work to quickly reverse this. Let’s look at the path that the Brazilian team has always had.”
In March, Dorival will debut with friendlies against England and Spain before leading Brazil at the Copa America in the summer.
The Brazilians will be without Neymar for those commitments and with the Al-Hilal player injured, Dorival was pressed about Neymar’s future in the yellow shirt. He did not shut the door on Neymar but demanded focus from the player.
The pair have history: in 2010, a dispute over a penalty between Neymar and Dorival at Santos led to the latter’s dismissal.
“Brazil has to learn to play without Neymar, understanding that he is injured, but also that we have one of the three best players in the world currently, and we have to take advantage of that,” said Dorival.
“As long as he’s better (from the injury) and focused. I have no problem with Ney. That situation went beyond what was expected in an unnecessary way, but we talked right after the game. I never had any kind of problem with the athlete, quite the opposite. Whenever we meet, it’s a very positive situation.”
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