Column – Palmeiras and Atlético-MG come out ahead of the competition
It's still December 2021, but the 2022 season of Brazilian football has already started and some teams are already well advanced in it. For the competition's concern, among them are two of the main candidates for all titles next year: Atlético-MG and Palmeiras. With the base formed this year, the maintenance of the main players and, mainly, the continuity of the work of the technicians, both leave with considerable advantage towards the objective of being champions again.
The third place in this scale of favorites is putting fans in suspense. Flamengo doesn't have a coach for 2022, it's full of alternatives, but it doesn't know whether to hire an Argentine, a Portuguese, a Brazilian, change the entire technical committee, fire the medical department. And, of course, when the new coach arrives, he will assess which players he needs and for which positions. If this whole process starts in January, before the pre-season, it's still possible to make up for this delay, but it wouldn't be new if the players returned without knowing, yet, who will be the commander.
Even because Flamengo cannot make mistakes again. The experiences lived in 2020/2021 left sequels, despite a Brazilian title won and a Super Cup. And from a season that, even without important trophies, had Flamengo fighting for the title in the three main competitions in the country.
Cuca and Abel Ferreira will have much less work. In addition to being able to maintain their game schemes, they have at hand the needs of Atlético-MG and Palmeiras to make their teams stronger. This means to say that clubs can go to the market in a very objective way to make the necessary signings. What rivals cannot do. For the simple fact that, later, they hire a coach who has a different game philosophy and doesn't see any use in that reinforcement. Financial and technical loss.
In 2022 the dispute will be greater. The schedule will be tighter, due to the World Cup, and whoever has a more balanced squad will have better chances. If this year was tight, with the postponement of the last round of the Brasileirão and games in short periods of time, next year there won't even be that possibility. It is certain that the teams will play the Brasileirão depleted and with teams worn out in the Libertadores and Copa do Brasil.
For technicians who are already here, no surprises. But for one who, it seems, will come from the outside, with a totally different mindset, it can be frightening. There is another issue to be overcome by Flamengo. That, however, when the ball rolls, it will be able to overcome all these difficulties since, there is no denying it, it has one of the best squads in the country, lacking in few positions. At the moment, I think he is behind in the race. But considering what Max Verstappen did last Sunday (12) in F1, why not imagine the arrival of a safety car on the track to make the race more exciting?
* Sergio du Bocage is the presenter of the program No Mundo da Bola, on TV Brasil.
Text translated using artificial intelligence.
