Before the arrival of Mano Menezes and Thiago Silva, Fluminense was in a desperate situation in the Brasileirão, sitting at the bottom of the table with only 6 points.
Come follow Fluminense’s rise in the Brasileirão.
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Index
Mano Menezes’ Fluminense
When Mano arrived at Fluminense, few believed the club would turn things around in the league, as after 13 matches, the team had only 6 points and was, of course, in last place.
Mano replaced Fernando Diniz, who had won the Libertadores with Fluminense the previous year but was having a very ineffective run this season. In his introductory interview, when asked if he would change or keep his predecessor’s style of play, Mano said:
– Well, I don’t know the exact number of coaches we have in Brazil, but I am absolutely sure that all of them who would come to replace Diniz would change the style of play because Diniz’s style is unique. So, with small or big adjustments, there will certainly be a change in the way we play.
– It won’t happen overnight with a major break, because after two and a half years of work, an idea gets ingrained, and that idea became a winning one. So, it sticks even more in the players’ minds and behavior.
Photo: Lucas Merçon/FFC
In his first three matches, Mano had two draws and one loss, but from then on, Fluminense had an amazing run with four consecutive wins.
Mano Menezes with Fluminense in the 2024 Brasileirão:
- 11 matches
- 6 wins
- 3 draws
- 2 losses
- 63.6% win rate
- 10 goals scored
- 5 goals conceded
The coach has a win rate of 63.6%, which would put Fluminense in third place in the Brasileirão, only behind Botafogo and Fortaleza, both with 66%.
In the second half of the season, Flu sits in second place with 13 points from 6 matches. Fortaleza is in first with 15 points.
Several players have played key roles in Fluminense’s resurgence. Thiago Silva, with his vast experience, has organized the defense. Kauã Elias, a youth academy product, has taken on responsibility and consistently contributed with goals. Paulo Henrique Ganso has maintained a high level of performance throughout the season. Lastly, Kevin Serna, a recent signing, has been very important, playing on the wings.
Photo: Thiago Ribeiro/AGIF
Thiago Silva’s Fluminense
Thiago Silva needs no introduction, having played for top European clubs throughout his career and being considered one of the best defenders of his generation.
At Fluminense, his impact was immediate. He debuted in an away win against Cuiabá and wrote an emotional post on his Instagram: “It had been 16 years since I last felt the beautiful sensation of wearing this jersey on the pitch. Without a doubt, this is a moment I will never forget, and I thank God for being by my side and helping us secure this victory tonight. I also want to thank my family and the fans for their support and affection. We will keep fighting for more victories. LET’S GO TOGETHER.”
Since then, the defender has played 7 matches in the Brasileirão, and his numbers are impressive.
Fluminense with Thiago Silva in the 2024 Brasileirão:
- 7 matches
- 6 wins
- 1 draw
- 90.5% win rate
- No goals conceded (0 goals per match)
Fluminense without Thiago Silva in the 2024 Brasileirão:
- 17 matches
- 1 win
- 5 draws
- 11 losses
- 15.7% win rate
- 26 goals conceded (1.53 goals per match)
Thiago Silva is a leader both on and off the pitch, and as captain, he provides his support and experience to the other players.
Photo: Gil Gomes/AGIF
Fluminense’s situation remains challenging, as the team sits in 16th place, just 2 points ahead of Corinthians, the first team in the relegation zone. However, the Tricolor is on the rise, and if they maintain their current level of performance, they shouldn’t give fans any scares and are likely to remain in the top tier of Brazilian football.
In other competitions, Fluminense was eliminated by Juventude in the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil but secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the Libertadores by beating Grêmio on penalties.
Written by Henry Miller.
