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There are those who consider the choice of Rogério Ceni de Flamengo risky (the agreement will be announced this Tuesday) as to hire Domenec Torrent. A still young technician, without so much experience, who never went through such a challenge. An offer.
I’m not on that team.
First, any coach rental is a gamble. It is to rely on a certain way of playing or working to achieve sports goals. There are never guarantees. It can work, it can go wrong. Well placed bets are those where the risk of going wrong is easily outweighed by the risk of going right.
Flamengo made a mistake when betting on Abel Braga. He nailed Jorge Jesús. Perhaps a little desperate by the sudden departure of the Portuguese or perhaps too confident after the perfect 2019, the club went to look for an author’s work in Europe to change the level even more. It was not necessary.
The bet on Domenec Torrent, Pep Guardiola’s assistant for years, but without experience as a major team manager, was simply too risky. Flamengo just needed to continue what Jesus did, they didn’t need to “travel in mayonnaise” like that. While some “no” was taken in the interview processes in Europe, in July, there were other less risky possibilities.
One of them, I always liked that one, Renato Gaúcho, formerly preferred, today almost marginalized. Another was Rogério Ceni, a safe name.
And why is Ceni less risky than Dome? Good. Yes, Rogério knows the pressure experienced by the big clubs in Brazil. The boy spent two decades being the goalkeeper of one of the giants of Brazilian soccer. He played in the World Cup. He lived close to the difficulties, joys and decisions of various coaches.
His career as a coach, although short, has already passed through São Paulo and Cruzeiro. And Fortaleza, despite having less national representation, is, yes, a mass club. Rogério already played in the final, he already did it well, he already did it badly, he already won, he already lost. These few years of career are already much more than what Domenec had done in his career.
To say that Flamengo is too big for Ceni seems crazy to me. If you have a boy prepared in Brazil for such a challenge, this boy is called Rogério Ceni.
And, of course, he is Brazilian. He knows the language, the grass, the travels, the opponents, the weather, the political environments within the clubs, he knows who’s who in the press, he built a network over the years. Play at home, why? While the Catalan would have a completely new experience in all aspects.
Flamengo was never the protagonist in São Paulo’s years of domination and, consequently, in Rogério’s heaviest games as a goalkeeper. I don’t think there is a relevant crowd pushback to his name, as there would be in a Palmeiras for life. Ceni knows that, in Brazil, the opportunity to get a cast like Flamengo is practically unique. Donkey, it never was. On the contrary.
He is a guy who will know how to resume Jorge Jesús’ work and who will have a hold on the players. With Dome, Ceni or any other coach, Flamengo must always be considered the big favorite for the Brazilian title. Possibly, this journey will resume with force from now on and with a greater chance of success. In the knockout, it’s another story.
