On the touchline Jorge Jesus didn’t remove his suit. In the stifling spring heat of Rio de Janeiro the Portuguese coach of Flamengo was making a psychological point to his players - the new demigods of the Carioca capital, who are on the verge of conquering the Brazilian league and the Copa Libertadores, the equivalent of the European Champions League: this was just another game, this was just another hot day at home, at the Maracana, so don’t feel tired.
Against Corinthians, the Flamengo fan base was seeking a reply from its team to the nagging question that had haunted the multitude for days: had the team of Jesus run out of steam already? Had the Portuguese not given his key players enough rest? The majority of Brazilian clubs rotate distinctly more than Jesus, compelled by the grueling domestic calendar and big travel distances. These were all valuable questions, but with the benefit of hindsight irrelevant and simply more evidence of the neurotic nature of Brazilian soccer.
At Flamengo, Jesus introduced a high press and an intensity hitherto unseen in the Brazilian league, but those novel features were in short supply in recent matches against CSA and Goias, two middling clubs. Flamengo still achieved four points out of six, drawing 2-2 with the Goiânia-based team.
In isolation those results were acceptable, but the accusation at the address of Jesus’ eleven ran deeper: this was a tired team with a coaching staff that had failed to plan adequately for a saturated calendar. The fans wanted a return to the bravura and the braggadocio of the rampant Flamengo that Jesus had mounted. After all, the club had been on an unbeaten run of fourteen games. Under Jesus, appointed ahead of the Copa America, Flamengo have played all other nineteen Brazilian clubs and enjoyed a success rate of 93.3 %.
Last Thursday against Goias, Flamengo, argued Jesus, had suffered from an emotional meltdown in the heat of the game. Goalkeeper Cesar’s sending off, Gabigol’s yellow card, a last minute equalizer and a discussion between Willian Arão and Gabigol were all a case in point. As a consequence, Flamengo and Jesus were questioned. In many ways it was the default reaction in the Brazilian game, but the scrutiny was also a testimony to how far Flamengo had come.
And so, under the watchful gaze of Christ Redeemer, Jesus wore a suit. Corinthians, the visitor in a mini-crisis of its own after seven games without victory, has a defensive tradition that predates the tenure of current Brazil coach Tite at the São Paulo club. Corinthians coach Fabio Carille deployed his team in a 4-5-1 formation in a bid to stifle Flamengo. For a while Carille’s set-up seemed to work: Flamengo labored and struggled to find openings or, failing to ignite, create two on one situations further upfield against an organized if unambitious team.
It was left to striker Bruno Henrique to liberate the host in the absence of Gabigol with a quick hat-trick. His second goal was a delightful, little chip over the onrushing goalkeeper Cassio following an exquisite rush by Gerson in midfield and the standout goal in what Jesus described as a ‘commanding’ 4-1 win. Substitute Vitinho added Flamengo’s fourth.
In the locker room after the game the Corinthians hierarchy dismissed Carille, a measure of the carnage Flamengo has inflicted on its rivals. Even when not playing particularly well, even when looking jaded, Flamengo still outclassed its opponent. The Rio club enjoys an eight-point advantage over runner-up Palmeiras with eight matches left to play, but the math is simple: Flamengo should win the league.
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