In the second round of the English Championship, Manchester City, quite renewed, lost at home to Tottenham 2-0. City played very badly.
I did not understand why Rodrigo, who had already returned to work weeks ago after a long absence because of a bruise, continues in the reserve. It only entered half the second half. English television has shown the player several times in the bank. He seemed to want to understand why he was not on the field. I spent the whole match waiting for an explanation, which did not come. I will try to know.
Rodrigue has a great quality, very important for the centralized midfielder who starts the offensive moves: the speed with which the ball comes out of his feet, with precise passes, without having to change his leg or change his body position when he receives a pass. Jorginho is another special midfielder.
The two remind me of Zé Carlos, a companion on Cruzeiro. He, like Rodrigo, dominated the ball and, quickly, with accurate, short or long passes, made the ball reach his mate.
Before the 1970 World Cup, Zé Carlos and Dirceu Lopes, another ace, were reserves in the national team under the command of João Saldanha. Zagallo took over the team, dismissed Zé Carlos and Dirceu Lopes and summoned two strikers (Dario and Roberto), which were my reserves at the World Cup. The justification of the coach was that there were many midfielders and no central classic.
Brazil needs to form more exceptional midfielders. More than that, it needs to fill the industry more and have more command of the ball and the game and know how to switch between the time of getting the ball and accelerating toward the goal.
In Brasileirão, Flamengo, with a collective and individual show, won Vitória 8 x 0.
Palmeiras also played very well in the 3-0 win against Sport. The biggest highlight was the duo of strikers, with Vitor Roque and Flaco López. The team now has more attack on the center, without relying so much on the crossed balls on the sides.
This Wednesday (27), by the Brazilian Cup, we will see two regional classics: Atletico-MG x Cruzeiro and Vasco x Botafogo. At the moment, Cruzeiro and Botafogo are better, but, as the philosopher Neném Plancha said, for almost a hundred years, classic is classic.
In the 2-0 win from Cruzeiro against Inter, Kaio Jorge and, especially Matheus Pereira scored beautiful goals. Probably Matheus Pereira knew that goalkeeper Roger usually plays in advance. But I still doubt whether Matheus Pereira, asking the ball for his partner, already knew that the goalkeeper was further ahead or made the decision to throw the ball over the moment of the touch. It doesn’t matter.
There is unconscious knowledge before thought. He knows, but doesn’t know he knows. Neurologists call kinesthetic intelligence, the ability to, in a fraction of seconds, calculate all the movements around them.
On Monday (25), Ancelotti called 25 players for both qualifying games. I liked the call. In many positions, there are more than two players with a similar technical level. Each person forms their opinion.
Neymar was left out. In the interview, Ancelotti was direct, blunt, saying that to play in the selection you must be in great physical condition. The flattering is over.
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