On Mano Menezes official website, the Brazilian coach admitted that he thinks Barcelona are undoubtedly the best side in the world and called for a deep analysis on the direction of Brazilian football.
Check out Menezes’ full statement below:
”There is no doubt amongst footballers, be that the players, coaches, fans or critics that this current group of Barcelona players came to make history.
The victory today in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup against Santos in Japan was another one of many victories earned and of more yet to come.
Thirty five years ago they decided where they wanted to be and worked tirelessly in this direction and the result is on display for the world to see. Their capacity is unquestionable. They are far and away the best team.
As the coach of the Brazilian football team, I leave this game with two feelings: one of sadness and one of hope.
Sadness for the indisputable superiority of a Spanish team against a Brazilian team, but hopeful because apart from the extremists, the defeat will be bring every one of us into a profound discussion about the real problems in Brazilian football.
I always hear that we always win in our own way and others are doing it the way we used to.
We have to face that we’re doing something different and we have to accept, understand and resolve this. Projects need to be serious and need to have continuity.
Here, our critics are still labelling our team as offensive or defensive team by the number of strikers or holding midfielders that the manager chooses to play and that passes on to the fans.
Barcelona have already played in all tactical provisions. They started a game recently with three defensive lines, with no defender and today they taught us how to be offensive, with no striker.
We keep producing players with great technical ability, but we need to train them, direct them and criticize them better.
Our potential still allows us a short-term recovery, so we have to do our part because our opponents are doing theirs.
Santos, despite the defeat, are the current champions of the Libertadores, world runners up, directed by one of the more technical winners of Brazilian football, with a great squad, which deserves all our respect.”
