Tite: Neymar is still Brazil's brightest star and he can help young players grow

In an exclusive interview with The Guardian a few days ago, Brazilian national team coach Tite talked about his work pressures, Neymar's future, and related topics related to refusing real madrid and Paris Saint-Germain coaching invitations. He said his family gave him a lot of support, which allowed him to relieve stress very well. He also believes that Neymar is still a unique player who can help young players grow.

With the World Cup just a few months away, are you feeling okay at the moment? How do you control your anxiety?

Tite replied, "How do I feel? Honestly, I'm really looking forward to the World Cup, but at the same time I'm also very focused. We have qualified for the World Cup. I think it's time to fight to get to the final and be champions. That's the truth. ”

"In the last World Cup, I was also the head coach of the team for a number of other reasons (Dungar was fired in 2016 and Tite took over). Now I have the opportunity to complete the entire four-year preparation cycle. Expectations are high for Brazil, but I think the focus is on the job. ”

"My players have the right values and a lot of experience playing. Of course I also have an extraordinary family. Without my wife Rossi, I would obviously not be where I am today. I often lose my temper, jump like thunder, and don't sleep at night, just like everyone else. But I have a partner who supports me, a family that supports me. I draw strength from my family, my work, and the optimism of everyone. ”

What are you currently afraid of?

Tite replied: "Actually, the pressure we face is a problem: responsibility, that is, the pressure of this position, I want to try to meet everyone's needs." When I was a fan, I wanted the team to be the best. That's what drives us forward. ”

"But at the same time, mental health is also crucial. I am reminded of a saying that Mandela once said: 'It is an ability to face fear bravely'. I think every decision he makes is tinged with fear. When I read this, I realized that I was actually an ordinary citizen. I also have my fears, my nightmares, my goosebumps. Fear but not fear. Fear and adversity are obviously two very different feelings. ”

Tite goes on to say: "I also read what Tosdowne , a Brazilian legend who won the 1970 World Cup ) said: 'Fame divides humanity – it creates such a category of people, and it also greatly weakens human creativity'. I need to care about Adenor (Tite's real name). Adenor also has a life of his own: he will continue to be a father, a grandfather. But he doesn't want to be measured by the outside world. If he wins, he is the best. Otherwise, he will be verbally abused. ”

"I really can't understand. When I speak, I represent my entire team. No one can monopolize truth. We need to reflect on different opinions, and we are open to well-argued views. It's clearly not about winning the game at any cost. ”

Alex Ferguson once said that great professional players always compete with themselves in the constant pursuit of progress. Do you know why? If I always compare myself to others, then I feel frustrated and hurt. In some areas I will do better, but in others I will also be worse than others. I need to stay healthy and have a healthy mind. ”

Do you feel bad when you're criticized like you were last year?

Tite went on to say: "We obviously need time to understand all this. When the game is over, the effect of watching from a distance is obviously the best. We also reaped the final results. What are people expecting? We broke the record for the most points in world cup qualifiers. We have the longest unbeaten record: 12 unbeaten in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers under my command, and now 17 unbeaten in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. That adds up to 29 unbeaten games. ”

Tite said: "You know, the qualifiers in the South American zone are really, very difficult. We have scored 13 more goals in 17 games than Argentina. We also managed to return to FIFA's number one position. We are the winners of the Copa America 2019. Then there's second place in the 2021 Copa America. ”

"Although we didn't win the final title last time, at such a difficult, chaotic moment, to go through a whole process, of course, is full of a series of problems, and I don't want to go into it all in more depth (Brazil took over the hosting of the 2021 Copa America from Colombia and Argentina during the pandemic, but there was a lot of criticism for doing so in the face of tens of thousands of deaths in the country)."

"In the previous 17 World Cup qualifiers, we have had 13 games without conceding a goal and completed a clean sheet. We averaged more than 2.5 goals per game. I would also like to point out one thing: no one wanted to participate in the Copa America before, and everyone expressed this view to Rogério Caboclo, who was president of the Brazilian Football Federation at the time. ”

Is Brazil the most enviable team?

Tite replied, "I need to tell you a story." An Italian coach who once mocked Miranda (Brazilian defender at the time, then Inter Milan, after Brazil was eliminated by Belgium at the 2018 World Cup), he said: 'What is it like to be eliminated by Belgium?' I heard about it from Miranda and I told Miranda that he (the Italian coach) would never be able to feel that way because he had never coached a national team like Brazil, or even his own country. It's a form of jealousy. That's why he asked Miranda. Many people are jealous of Brazil. But they don't admit it. Maybe it's the most enviable team in the world. ”

"I think it's a sign of a lack of respect and jealousy. This is my legacy, the legacy of all of us Brazilians, with the glorious history of Bailey, Mario Zagallo, Eduardo Tosdown, Garincha. If even Zagallo will be criticized, how can I not be criticized? Is Brazil the most enviable country? I think so, but whenever I go out, everyone asks me how I'm under the pressure of being a coach for the Brazilian national team. ”

Recently Neymar said he was tired and this could be his last World Cup. Will you worry about Neymar? Have you talked to him?

Tite replied, "You mean 'recently'?" We have to pay attention to when exactly this happened, this interview was released last October, but it was recorded a few months ago, either shortly after Paris Saint-Germain lost the Champions League semi-finals or after Brazil lost the Copa America final. If Neymar had spoken immediately after losing the Copa America final, I would have felt very sad too. ”

"I think that has to be considered in the right context. We spoke to all the players, including Neymar, and I understand their physical, technical, tactical and psychological preparations when preparing for the decisive match. We pass on our insights to each other. ”

"Because of Neymar's greatness, people always have high hopes for him. But now it's all diluted. I think in addition to Neymar, Brazil has Vinicius, Rafinha, Paqueta, Casemiro, Fabinho and Thiago Silva, who is back at the top level again. ”

Is Neymar the best player you have so far or has it entered the era of Vinicius?

Tite replied, "Neymar is Neymar. He remains our brightest star. The difference now is that this glow is diluted by the equally glowing young players nearby. The great thing about Neymar is that he understands the upbringings of these children. He encouraged the boys to take it to the next level. Time and experience will make them more mature. ”

This year's World Cup, you can't get your mother's support (she died in 2019), how will that be different?

Tite replied, "My mother is really innocent, it's a beautiful point. When we won the Copa America, she asked me if it was more important than the World Cup. So I explained that it wasn't the same trophy, but it was also very weighty. I was really calm. What I do is also what they want me to accomplish. I am completing my father's will. He was my first coach. I know I've made them proud. My mother always gave me a lot of faith, and my father also had a very strong love for the sport. I'm really okay, I can feel their expectations, their energy. ”

"I usually only play 15 minutes of football with my grandchildren. I couldn't have done more because it was really intense. Then their grandma would go and kick them for a while. But I really can't leave football. It's an honor for me and I feel fulfilled. ”

Tite went on to say: "I have a lot of videos and games to watch, but I also enjoy spending time with my family. I loved being with Rosie and walking with her. I love books, yerbayan tea, coffee and also enjoy playing with my kids and grandchildren. I also enjoy watching movies. I read a lot of books, which made me more fulfilling. But I'm not going to stop it all. I always want to write something. ”

Will this World Cup determine your future?

Tite replied, "Indeed. If you can win the World Cup, then you have an open market. You can have a lot of options. I'm obviously not going to lie and I don't think my idea is definitely to stay in Brazil and work. ”

"Of course I hope to spend a year with my family, take a year off, study without taking any responsibility, because the responsibility of the national team is really too big. If there is an invitation from another country, I think it is possible to happen. Now I'm still the head coach of the Brazilian national team, it's a responsibility and I enjoy it. I'm not going to talk to anyone about anything else right now. ”

But have you ever received an invitation to coach at a European club in the past?

Tite replied: "Yes, Real Madrid and Portugal Sport have contacted me. What I like is that when a European club is interested in a professional coach, they will have a conversation with you and explain what they need. It's really cool. There was another club that wanted to talk to me, but I declined, and that club was called Paris Saint-Germain (after Emery left in May 2018). They wanted to talk to me, and I said I didn't want to talk about it, and I really didn't want to, and I wouldn't. I don't want to give you other possibilities. I want to focus on my current job. What happened after that is obviously another story. ”

Tite added: "Before the World Cup in Russia, they (Real Madrid) said they wanted to talk to me, but I declined the invitation, I said I wouldn't talk about it, I didn't want to approach them. I want to calmly face myself and my work. I really tried my best. When you do two things at the same time, you really can't do your best. I can't do it anyway. I did get invitations from Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Sport of Portugal. But I don't want that. I just want to lead Brazil to win the World Cup. Of course, after the World Cup, I will decide my future. ”

(Tiger Punch)