Botafogo’s title in the Libertadores will remain in the memory of everyone who follows — and even appreciates — football for a long time.
It’s difficult to add anything to what my valued neighbors have already said. Tostão explained everything that happened on the field in a few lines (what a power of synthesis) and wisely identified the star of the match, coach Artur Jorge.
Libertadores is a Portuguese cup, for sure. Professor Artur won the fourth title for Portuguese teachers in the last six editions: two for Abel, Ferreira (for Palmeiras); and two for Jorge, the other is Jesus (and Jesus is Flamengo).
Master Juca Kfouri wrote a beautiful historical chronicle to talk about the unprecedented achievement. Botafogo completes the (already aged) list of the supposed Big 12, now all with relevant continental titles (the four from São Paulo, the four from Rio, the two from Minas and the two from Rio Grande do Sul).
The final also made it clear how an inferior team could reach the final and have a chance of winning it. It’s the beauty of the knockout stage. On paper, Atlético-MG looks excellent. But the truth is that the team from Minas Gerais only played one great game in the competition, the 3-0 victory against River Plate in the first leg of the semi-final — poetically, taking away from River the chance to compete for the title at home.
Playing an entire game with 10 players against 11, dominating much of it and coming away with three goals shows not only Botafogo’s superiority but also Athletic’s limitations.
But if no one spoke, this scribe, still humble, will say: putting Novak without Djokovic’s vaccine to take the trophy to the field was just one of the very ridiculous things that Conmebol does with mastery. The tennis player was in the country for an exhibition match against local idol Juan Martín del Potro. If you want to be funny, invite him to watch the game in the box, you don’t need to hand the cup to the man. In fact, it would make more sense for Del Potro to carry the trophy.
This scribe also found, let’s say, out of tune, a performance with Djonga and Marcelo Adnet to sing fan anthems. The fans were already there, wow; Was it a show for those at home? I prefer Anitta or Ludmilla.
And, look, I’m Marcelo Adnet’s number 4 fan, I think he has to do a samba-enredo for Botafogo. But that participation… step. There was time for Djonga to swear into the microphone and make not-so-innocent gestures. It was one of the few moments in which Luís Roberto was silent on the Globo broadcast. And, people, making Luís Roberto silent, people, is for few people, people.
Botafogo had such a perfect weekend that they won matches in the Brazilian Championship without taking the field. Flamengo’s victory against Internacional, for example, took away from the Gaucho team the remote possibility of winning the title.
Thus, Inter may be less mobilized for the decisive match this Wednesday (4), in Beira-Rio, against Putfire. Fortaleza was also defeated, by Vitória, leaving only Palmeiras with any hope.
To be champion, Alviverde now needs to defeat the brilliant Botafoguenses — in addition to beating Cruzeiro and, later, Fluminense.
In the event of a new title, I only fear for the new generation of Botafoguenses, who may lose their historical pessimism. They only know how to say now that “it’s time for Botafogo”.
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