New Corinthians manager Mano Menezes has talked about the importance of the Campeonato Paulista ahead of his side’s opener against Portuguesa on Sunday.
Although talk has centralised on Corinthians qualifying for the Copa Libertadores, Menezes has called for focus on the State Championship first.
Lance quoted the former Brazil manager ahead of his first game since returning to Timão.
Menezes said: “We have to keep winning. One semester is not enough.
“Speaking about the Libertadores is a little early, we have no place for it in this Championship. Let’s play the Paulista first.
“The Brasileirão is after the World Cup, but this (Paulista) can give us a possibility and then we focus on the Brasileirão.”
Menezes also went on to talk about the financial troubles at the club, with £10 million apparently owed to three creditors over signings made during 2013.
The Corinthians manager admitted when his phone rung for this job he knew the money situation already, this is normally different though as he went onto to explain.
“When my phone rings and calls are made for me to work, I have no idea how the finances of the club are,” Menezes said ironically.
“Usually when they call me they say ‘ah, we have little money’, or ‘ah we need to spend less, get creative’.
“But when my phone rang for Corinthians, I already knew.”
