Textor may have been right when he said the team’s motivation waned after the 2024 titles. Davide faces a huge challenge
Botafogo’s SAF majority member, John Textor, in one of his last speeches, said that the Glorioso team did not have the same appetite as in 2024 to seek titles this season. Last year, Alvinegro won the Libertadores da América and the Brazilian Championship. The emotional part, therefore, has become an important theme in the Juventus universe in the last few rounds and a great challenge for coach Davide Ancelotti. From mid-September, in the farewell to the Copa do Brasil, until last weekend, in the 2-2 draw against Santos, at the Colosso do Subúrbio, the Juventus team looked like a set of official stamps. One day someone will stand out a little more. However, in the subsequent appointment, he does not maintain regularity and falls back into bureaucratization. The climate of demobilization and fluctuation took Fogão out of a comfortable position and placed it in seventh place in the Brasileirão, out of the G6 for the first time in a long time.
Textor perhaps understood the diagnosis correctly. However, the line of thinking of the Godfather contains something worrying. An institution the size of Botafogo cannot sustain itself in just one extraordinary year. The best way to preserve history is to try to enhance it. For decades, the 1995 Brasileirão was the greatest achievement of General Severiano’s club, while some rivals took the lead. In 2024 Glorioso tried to collect them. However, by recording this “drop” in the team’s motivation, the big boss, even if unintentionally, removes the most traditional from a select group of giants. After all, those who defend the Lone Star can never give up. The same goes for those who are in charge and have the final say. Mainly in a context of robust demand and investment.
Changed and worsened
THE great boss North American also cites “lack of energy” to justify the changes in the Mais Tradicional roster. The multiple champion starting team included John (goalkeeper), Gregore (midfielder), Almada (midfielder), Luiz Henrique (forward) and Igor Jesus (centre forward), that is, almost the entire front line. Among the substitutes, Alvinegro eliminated names such as Gatito (goalkeeper), Danilo Barbosa (midfielder), Tchê Tchê (midfielder), Eduardo (midfielder), Romero (midfielder), Júnior Santos (forward) and Tiquinho (center forward). The search to renew the group with new motivations failed. In goal, Neto had not completed even five games before his serious injury, the same reason why Botafogo lost defender Pantaleão and midfielder Montoro, their best signings of the year. Danilo is another success explorerbut he doesn’t have the intensity needed to play the role of “5”. Newton is not ready. It took Tucu three months to finally debut. Santi also set off late. Cabral, Chris, Rwan, Elias and Mastriani are among the costly mistakes.
Will Davide Ancelotti have the strength to overcome many adverse situations that have hindered him and lead the Juventus team to qualification for the Copa Libertadores? If the answer is positive, it will truly be a pleasant surprise. The ranking is in favor of Alvinegro. But, even with the vacancy, the young Italian commander will need almost irrefutable arguments to convince the majority of Botafoguism. The final stretch of the Brasileirão do Glorioso, with far from rosy news on the pitch frontit seems like a long, meandering film, with repeated scenes.
*This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Jogada10.
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Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
