In the weeks leading up to the Copa América, another massive event is taking place in the United States: the NBA Finals. The Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks are playing a best-of-seven series scheduled between March 22 and Sunday, June 23. However, since it is a best-of-seven series, the team that wins four games will take the title.
Last night, the Celtics achieved an important third consecutive victory, tipping the balance in favor of Joe Mazzulla’s team, who only need to win tomorrow (06/14) to take the title after several years of drought.
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Joe Mazzulla, coach of the Boston Celtics: “Who has dealt with more pressure, Neymar or Tatum?”
Ahead of Game 3, Mazzulla, a soccer enthusiast recently seen with Pep Guardiola sharing sports perspectives and opinions, held an unusual press conference where he took advantage of the presence of a Brazilian journalist, Ari Aguiar, to ask about the pressure Brazilian footballers feel, comparing it to the pressure his star player, Jayson Tatum, feels game after game:
“Hey, I have a question. Who do you think had a tougher adjustment to the media and criticism? Because the way Brazilian soccer players are viewed is very similar to how American athletes are viewed by the media. If you look at where Neymar has been, taking the number 10 and number 9. Who do you think has dealt with more, and how do you think they have managed it? Because I feel that playing for the Celtics and representing Brazil in their national team… and you also see Endrick coming and he will have to face this soon. How do you think this is handled in your country?” Mazzulla asked.
Joe Mazzulla has a lengthy back-and-forth with a Brazilian reporter about the similarities in the ways the media has criticized Jayson Tatum and Neymar throughout their careers pic.twitter.com/pIWtnfzlWo
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) June 11, 2024
Ari Aguiar, well-versed in both sports, did not miss the chance to give his opinion, asserting that Neymar has handled the pressure quite well, as he faced the responsibility of leading a Brazil without idols. However, he acknowledged that the pressure and expectations placed on his shoulders were very unfair.
In response, Mazzulla said: “I agree. I would say the same for (Jayson) Tatum. Also, he is probably ‘the first number 10 to carry the weight of Brazil’ in the social media era, right? Who before Neymar was involved in this social media era? He is so good at everything that it can be taken for granted.”
“When he (Neymar) won the Gold Medal (Rio 2016) by scoring the winning penalty, you might think that would have cemented him, but it didn’t. I think the guys I’ve been around share the same burden, having to manage the responsibility of moving forward, that’s a great gift. It’s probably the same with Neymar, right?”
Joe Mazzulla and the pressure of coaching in Brazil: “It’s an Impossible Job”
During the press conference, Ari Aguiar also spoke about Neymar’s nightlife, which is the most criticized aspect of the Brazilian.
“I don’t know him. I just know he’s a soccer player,” he said.
Joe Mazzulla getting coached up by Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola ahead of the NBA Finals 🏀⚽️
(via @MHershgordon, @ManCity) pic.twitter.com/ZUc0eFzlZI
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 6, 2024
Mazzulla took the opportunity to emphasize the pressure Brazilian coaches face:
“Don’t get me started on the coaches… That’s like an impossible job. I study that a lot because I think we’re in a very similar environment here in terms of how to handle this.”
Remembering Zagallo
Sambafoot Series launched a new documentary about the football legend Zagallo. Known as ‘Velho Lobo‘ and as superstitious as it gets, Zagallo helped shape what Brazilian football is nowadays — as a player and as a coach.
Watch the full series, available on Sambafoot’s Youtube channel.
