Atlético Mineiro president Dan Nepomuceno explained the club’s decision to sack coach Marcelo Oliveira, following the team’s 3-1 defeat to Grêmio in the home leg of the Copa do Brasil final. Oliveira survived only 6 months as coach.
With the second leg of the final to take place in Porto Alegre next week, the Galo board decided to act, "Yesterday (Wednesday), after the game, it was decided that Marcelo would not be coaching next year. Obviously there are going to be questions about our long-term plan.
"The responsibility, now, for the Copa do Brasil title and finishing in the top 3 is only mine and the players, there is no other department, most of the players know Diogo [Giacomini, caretaker manager], he knows what he is capable of."
Atlético currently sit in 4th place in the Brasileirão, which would mean they would have to play a qualifier to assure their place in the 2017 Copa Libertadores. Nepomuceno highlighted the positives of Oliveira’s reign.
"He made it to the final of the Copa do Brasil, I"m not all or nothing, he won the Copa last year with Palmeiras and the club was competing for the title with 3 games to go," he told a press conference on Thursday.
