Sampaoli: “No, I’m not thinking of resigning”

The coach of Argentina Jorge Sampaoli He said this Sunday that he will not resign from his position at Flamengo despite losing the Copa do Brasil title in the final with Sao Paulo. “No, I am considering resigning. That assessment has to be made by the president of the club,” he declared in a press conference after the 1-1 draw at the Morumbi stadium that gave Sao Paulo its first Brazilian Cup title.

Sampaoli said he knew he had arrived “at a club in crisis, having lost four finals” and that the start was “difficult” considering the defeats against Maringá in the Copa do Brasil and against Ecuadorian Aucas in the Libertadores .

“It certainly didn’t happen the way I wanted, but in those five months I dedicated 24 hours a day to change that fact. But, to be honest, I differentiate the Libertadores and the ‘Brasileirao’ from the Copa do Brasil. For me, Flamengo lost the Copa do Brasil. Brazil is unfair,” he lamented.

Sao Paulo and Flamengo drew 1-1 under sweltering heat and in front of 63,000 fans who packed the Morumbi stadium. Bruno Henrique opened the scoring and in the added minute of the first half Rodrigo Nestor equalized for the locals, who in last week’s 0-1 draw in Rio de Janeiro won the tournament title for the first time.

Added to the loss in the final of the Copa do Brasil was elimination from the Libertadores, relegation to the Brazilian league and an internal crisis that went beyond the sporting aspect and accumulated three incidents between team members off the field.

Sampaoli praised his players today and said Flamengo were “better”, mainly in the first half. In the second, in his opinion, he was hurt by the “pecks” of the referee. Now – stressed the former Chilean and Argentine coach – Flamengo will look for a place in the Brazilian Championship for the Libertadores, which it stopped getting today after losing the Copa do Brasil title.