Zubeldia no Paraiso, Diniz no Inferno!
São Paulo came from behind to beat Fluminense 2-1 on Monday at Morumbi, leaving the fans happy. It’s the new Smile Era with coach Luis Zubeldia. The coach has been with the club for six games and hasn’t tasted defeat yet. It’s been five wins and one draw. After tough times with Thiago Carpini, now it’s Paradise reigning. The Argentine is just getting started. He still needs to find a place for Lucas Marcelinho when he returns from the medical department. Not to mention the situation with James Rodriguez, a great player indeed, but a case with no immediate solution. Either he leaves or stays! The decision will be up to the coach. If he asks, he stays. Otherwise, he goes.
Over at the other Tricolor, the team from Rio, things are quite complicated. Coach Fernando Diniz’s team is worn out. They have an aging squad (often sidelined with physical problems), and the tactical scheme is already “known” by almost all opponents. This passing game from the goalkeeper to the left winger isn’t working anymore. Diniz’s style is on borrowed time in Brazilian football. It was a special moment. Everyone believed this would be the light at the end of the tunnel for Brazilian soccer to rise from the mud and maybe one day win a World Cup hexa. However, it failed on the national team front and now faces tough times as a tactical scheme in day-to-day football.
Fernando Diniz has won two titles so far: a state championship and a Libertadores. Between us, too little for all the opportunities he had as a coach. At São Paulo, he had the Brazilian title practically in his hands. He has a hot temper: called Tche Tche “weak” and argued with Luciano in almost every game. He burned bridges and lost the locker room. By stubbornly sticking to the passing game, he let go of a relatively easy competition to win. For now, Zubeldia is proving to be a coach with a “good head,” without the attitude of “I’m the boss here.” He shows the players where they went wrong and what they can do to improve.
Zubeldia is in “heaven”; Diniz is in “hell.”
And that’s my final word!
