In the years since the Brazilian legend’s retirement, tactics in the beautiful game have become more defensive and the 73-year-old has admitted to being saddened by lack of flowing offensive football.
In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Pelé stated that there emphasis is now more on winning than ever before.
“Italy always played defence — in my time, now, always,” began the Santos legend.
“Unfortunately today, I think because of the millions, because of the new technology, because of the money from the sponsors, the people, they don’t care the way they win.”
He says the message from coaches is not win, but rather “don’t lose.”
“They don’t care about the beautiful game. They don’t care about the elegance of football. In my time, we used to think and give a little show.”
Pelé has never wanted to be a coach, insisting that the job is for a technician and not for someone with as much talent as him.
“If I would be a coach, I think it would be a little difficult because sometime I’m going to make a mistake, a big mistake, because I’m going to ask the forward, the No. 10, do what I used to do,” he reasoned.
