Mano Menezes fired from Corinthians. Zanardi is the frontrunner

Mano Menezes is no longer in charge of Corinthians.

The coach was dismissed by the new management after a tough home defeat to Novorizontino.

Let’s see what the prospects are for Corinthians in this tumultuous start to the year.

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Corinthians 1 x 3 Novorizontino

As mentioned in the previous article about Timão’s current situation, what the fans feared most has happened.

Having won only one of the last four games, Corinthians faced Novorizontino at Neo Química Arena, at 11:00 am on Sunday.

No need to compare the investment capacity and payroll of both teams.

Nevertheless, Novorizontino cannot be considered a “weak” team. Currently in Serie B with a good campaign last year, the northwest São Paulo team almost achieved promotion to the top division, finishing fifth, just one point behind the promotion zone.

The institution’s good form extends into the Paulista Championship. After yesterday’s victory, they reached nine points and are second in their group, trailing only São Paulo.

However, the need for a Corinthians victory in front of their fans was well known.

The match marked the debut of Pedro Raul, one of the few players signed this year. The player had a great 2022 Brazilian Championship with Goiás, as well as a promising start with Vasco da Gama, but it didn’t continue. He moved to Necaxa in Mexico, where he struggled. In the Apertura, he scored only two goals in 14 games, with only 43% as a starter.

Image: Press Release Corinthians

Thus, Timão started the match well, attempting attacks and having more possession. Opportunities were created, falling to the debutant.

In one of them, a miss inside the box. In another, he elegantly dribbles the defender but misses the target, face to face with the goalkeeper.

As the home team couldn’t score, they seemed anxious, and spaces started to appear for the visitors.

When a big team needs to win and the chances created are wasted, it’s a maxim: if you don’t score, you’ll concede.

At 45 +1′, Jenison receives a cross alone in the area and delicately heads it past Cássio. The striker hadn’t scored in over a year, with an incredible 39-game goal drought. And more was yet to come.

There was no chance of a comeback, as two minutes into the second half, Novorizontino passed the ball calmly in Corinthians’ midfield, ending with a through ball behind the defense, finding Rômulo.

Cássio takes an invaluable time to come out of the goal. The team’s good midfielder, recently transferred to Palmeiras, slightly touches the ball. It affectionately hits the post and offers itself to the goal scorer. Jenison completes it, making it 2-0.

From then on, Corinthians seemed completely defeated. The reflection of this was the third goal.

Once again, the visitors stitched together the play without major problems. The ball is crossed, passing through the entire width of the box and inches away from Felix Torres’ feet, who does nothing.

Jenison enters unmarked to simply push it into the net, sealing his hat-trick and Novorizontino’s 3-0 victory.

Corinthians managed to reduce the deficit late in the game with a headed goal by Yuri Alberto after a beautiful play by Wesley Gassova, who dribbled and shot the ball against the post. Yuri finished after the ball stayed alive in the box.

A very striking factor in this and other Timão losses is the passivity of their players in marking. The opposing team doesn’t need much effort or many opportunities to find the back of the net.

Right after the match, the Fiel Torcida chanted for Mano Menezes’ departure, criticizing the management and demanding reinforcements.

The prayers were answered.

Image: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians / Esporte News Mundo

Mano Menezes ousted, and a new coach on the horizon

Mano Menezes’ third and undoubtedly worst stint with Corinthians has come to an end.

The first time, he was a Paulista and Copa do Brasil champion, earning him the position of Brazil’s national team coach.

When he returned in 2014, he didn’t have a good start but managed to pick up and qualify for the Copa Libertadores.

Now, he led the team in 20 games. He entered in the middle of Brasileirão 2023, replacing Vanderlei Luxemburgo.

In those 20 matches, there were 6 wins, 5 draws, and resounding 9 losses.

At no point during this stint was there any expectation created since the team couldn’t string together any positive sequences.

But the truth must be told. The problem here is not exclusively Mano Menezes’ poor performance but also that of all the players in the squad, as well as the absolutely tumultuous political situation of the institution.

It should be emphasized that the financial aspect will be an important factor, as the coach’s buyout could reach R$ 9 million. This, coupled with the PixBet sponsor’s contract termination fee and FIFA’s R$ 17 million payment condemnation for Fausto Vera, is likely to further complicate Corinthians’ finances.

The frontrunner to take over is Márcio Zanardi, the current coach of São Bernardo, also competing in the Paulistão Serie A.

In the last Paulistão, he had an excellent campaign, finishing second in the overall standings but being eliminated by Palmeiras.

An interesting fact is that, with the loss, Corinthians entered the relegation zone in the Paulistão and should be on high alert since it’s a short-format tournament. Relegation in the competition would be a significant embarrassment for the fans and the institution.

The most likely candidate to turn the team around is a coach who can’t even take the position. According to the Paulistão regulations, the same coach cannot lead two different teams in the same edition.

Therefore, Márcio Zanardi couldn’t be in the technical area in any game.

The name of Cuca is also being mentioned, desired by some of the fans.

However, hiring Cuca would involve the team once again in controversy, as his departure was precisely due to pressure from the fans because of a sexual violence conviction when he was still a player.

The scenario is very unfavorable. There aren’t many options in the market, and Corinthians needs a quick response.

However, the next game on Wednesday is a classic against Fábio Carille’s Santos. At this moment, Peixe is the sole leader (São Paulo and Palmeiras have one game less due to the Supercopa final), with four wins in five games.

Another defeat, especially against a rival, could be a significant blow to Parque São Jorge’s team.

Do you believe Timão can turn things around?

Image: Press Release São Bernardo