Analysis: Odair leaves behind eliminations in cups and consolidates work in Fluminense with G-4 | fluminense

The last defeat was on September 24, 3-1 against Atlético-GO. This match culminated in the elimination of the Copa do Brasil. And the team’s biggest unbeaten streak of the year looming right after a traumatic disqualification is significant.

There Odair lived his moment of greatest pressure and distrust towards the fans. The fall in the 4th phase of the Copa do Brasil rescued the memory of the disappointing elimination in the 1st phase of the South American Championship, a competition that the tricolor gave more hope for the season.

Only the Brasileirão remained. Although the technician has the confidence of the board, a bad streak and a flirtation with the Z-4 ​​could put the work in doubt. But the response from the coach and the players was immediate. Since then, Fluminense has lost no more and jumped from ninth to fourth in the competition.

+ Odair says he is proud of the group for the first round and explains why he does not use Luiz Henrique

Merit of the athletes, for not being affected by the elimination and buying the fight for a good performance in the Brazilian, of Odair, to recover the morale of the players and maintain the competitiveness of the team, and also of the management, for allowing a work sequence. an environment in which technician changes are routine.

– I take this symbolic moment at the end of the 1st round to thank and congratulate the players. For the respect, for the dedication, for having assimilated and bought the idea of ​​the game. We are managing to establish that respect and competence within the group. Very proud of that group. He quickly assimilated the context of the competition. That is why we are doing this campaign. And it is emblematic, for everything the club has gone through in recent years – said Odair after the match.

One of Odair’s greatest assets has been group management. This, by the way, was one of the characteristics for which he was chosen. In a squad that gathers medallions with players with little experience, the coach has managed to convey a sense of group, avoiding selfishness and keeping everyone dedicated to a common goal. Sometimes he insists on some pieces and makes decisions that raise questions (such as not having started with Luiz Henrique, for example), but perhaps they are precisely decisions with the aim of maintaining that harmony achieved.

The good campaign of the Brazilian does not erase the mistakes made and the responsibilities of the coach in other competitions. However, it is worth mentioning the contexts mentioned by Odair himself in the press conference last Saturday. Sula’s games were in February, in a period when the Flu team was in formation and with many absences (in the debut, Matheus Alessandro became the only forward). In the Copa do Brasil, the fall came for an Atlético-GO organized in a match in which the tricolor players began to experience symptoms of Covid-19.

On the other hand, the good sequence in the Brazilian shows that the coach has learned from setbacks. The Fluminense team remained highly competitive and have shown stronger game variations. Odair and his coaching staff have also demonstrated competence in analyzing opponents and choosing strategies for each match.

Against Fortaleza, for example, the coach changed the distribution of the tricolor midfield. Without Nenê (injured) and Dodi (suspended), he abandoned the crack in “V” and put Hudson and Yago in the last row and Ganso ahead. The first two played a great role in protecting the defense, while jersey 10 finished not so well. To reinforce the brand, Michel Araújo and Caio Paulista were scheduled to close the wings.

Fluminense had a very solid game defensively. It was pressed only in the first minutes of each half. Other than that, he was in control of the stock. Fortaleza, even at home, didn’t even put Muriel in danger.

The offensive challenge remained. The Ceará team has the best defense in the competition (only 12 goals conceded) and was coming off an even longer unbeaten streak (12 games). Fluminense fought to infiltrate the good defense of Rogério Ceni.

But he had the patience to spin the ball and look for spaces. His work was facilitated by the expulsion of Roger Carvalho, at 9 o’clock in the 2nd stage, it must be admitted. At that time, Stronghold was threatening to grow in the game. Flu then regained control and scored the goal in the 29th minute of the 2nd half on a rebound in an effort by Wellington Silva (a little luck is always welcome).

With competitiveness and results, Odair consolidates its work in Fluminense. The eliminations in Sula and in the Copa do Brasil were left behind and the tricolor now look to the rest of the season dreaming of a place so far difficult to reach in the Libertadores.

Fluminense’s fourth place in the Brazilian is surprising. The team is ahead of teams with higher investments, such as Palmeiras, Santos, Grêmio and Corinthians. The road, however, is halfway there. There are still 19 games left to reach the vacant goal in Libertadores. The next challenge is next Sunday, against Grêmio, in Maracanã, for round 20.

• Spotify – spoti.fi/2U28w3x
• Google Podcasts – bit.ly/38QaYPT
• Apple Podcasts – apple.co/2PG7DfL
• Pocket molds – pca.st/1WK0
• Aperta or play!