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Luiz Felipe Scolari surprised and risked one of the most successful study plans in the history of Brazilian soccer when he assumed technical command of Cruzeiro in Serie B in October, succeeding Ney Franco.
Faced with the economic hole in which the Minas Gerais club passed, the coach has already set a low or realistic goal: avoid relegation and prepare the team to try to climb in 2021. The irregularity and the six-point deficit in the competition by sanction of FIFA intervened in such a modest planning for a national giant.
But Felipão started well: victory in the debut, in round 17, against Operário, away from home, and six more unbeaten games, three victories and three draws, with the culmination in the victory away against the leader Chapecoense by 1 to 0.
The Minas Gerais team had one more factor of change with the return of Rafael Sóbis. He made his debut against Figueirense on matchday 22 and the veteran forward is already the team’s top scorer, with five goals in ten games.
Helping to regain the consistency of the campaign, even after Confiança’s 2-1 loss, which stunned Mineirão and took Scolari’s unbeaten record. But with immediate response in the next round, defeating America, Lisca’s team that is the “zebra” in the Brazil Cup, 2-1 in Independência. Then the 4-1 victory over Pelotas Brasil.
In the last matches, however, there was an oscillation that diminishes the dream of access: a single victory, in Barradão over Vitória by 1 to 0, and then draws by CSA and Avaí by 1 to 1, defeat of Ponte Preta by 2 to 1 and, finally, a goalless draw at home against Cuiabá. Being eight points behind Juventude, fourth, who still play in the round, at home against Ponte Preta. Reduce the possibility of promoting the G-4 to mathematical possibilities. Very remote.
What happened to Cruzeiro? In the press conference after the last game, in Independência, when asked about the drop in the team’s production, he was simple and direct: “I can’t explain.”
But it is not difficult to understand. Felipão arrived and, with the symbolism of his presence, he has already changed his perspective. A tremendous “new fact” in the Second National Division. And the technician did the usual in his teams: he transformed the environment, simplified processes, worked a more direct game, assuming fewer risks.
Over time, however, the repertoire is “managed” by rivals and, within a Serie B in which Cruzeiro is the protagonist in all matches, by jersey and history, it is necessary to create more solutions. And here comes the great limitation of Felipão in his recent work: the difficulty of imposing himself as a favorite.
In the Brazilian title of Palmeiras two years ago, the undeniable merits, but a unique context: the club prioritized the knockout competitions and a mixed team, lighter for not carrying so many responsibilities, grew in the void of the competitors Flamengo, Internacional and São . Paulo and achieved leadership. With the eliminations in Libertadores and in the Copa do Brasil, the final sprint that guaranteed the conquest.
Now it is different. And there are still financial problems that haunt you all the time. On the field, William Pottker, another recent signing, is another floundering after a promising start. Felipão cannot be faulted for lack of work. Try to improve offensive production. In the last game he played in the forward quartet at 4-2-3-1 keeping Sóbis and Pottker, but changing Jadsom Silva for Giovanni and Airton for Arthur Caíke. Unsuccessful, despite 65% possession and 16 submissions, with six on target.
There were 38 crosses and 68 long passes. As much as current football is of intensity and volume, it is necessary to generate spaces. With movement and creativity to facilitate a decisive infiltration. Felipão suffers for this to happen, as it happened so many times in Palmeiras. Even more so when he won the status of favorite.
The return to Serie A is likely to be postponed. Understandable for everything that happened. With the six points, access would be much more viable. And 58% utilization with Felipão in 16 games would be more than enough to guarantee himself in the G-4 – Cuiabá, fourth place, has 53% in the 32 rounds.
But the truth is that Cruzeiro will be the first giant to fall and not rise the following year, with Serie B played in consecutive points. A tremendous problem for those who need to raise more to survive and suffer, already in the first year, with the sharp drop in television quota, without the protection that existed previously.
Felipão rehearsed the sprint, but ran into the limitations of his last works to deliver something above the median. Stay for next year.
(Statistics: SofaScore)
