The Dorival Júnior era in the Brazilian national team is about to begin. The former São Paulo coach has a lot of work to do leading a country looking to rediscover results and, fundamentally, its identity. His commitment to achieving this seems to be total, as he was in Europe to follow the footballers who will be part of his process.
In fact, both Raphinha and Vitor Roque told ESPN Brazil that the coach visited them in Barcelona recently to tell them what he expects from them in this upcoming cycle that will start in the upcoming FIFA date.
READ MORE
++ Champions League quarter-finals draw: when it is, teams, possible matches
++ Real Madrid x Manchester City: remember Brazilians who scored goals in the match
++ PSG x Barcelona: recall Brazilians who scored goals in the history of the matchup
“He came here to talk to us, show us that he is looking to have a dialogue with everyone. He is in Europe closer to the players. He came to convey what he expects from the work, what he expects the players to do. What we can bring to the fans, so they can trust the Selecao again. So that the fans feel like stopping and following it. His vision. He didn’t leave anyone with a guaranteed call-up. Basically, that was it. This first contact was important for us to know what he wants for the Selecao and for the players,” said Raphinha.
“Dorival was here and talked to me and Raphinha. We have to change our fans’ perception of the Selecao. Build a team for the people. Play for and with the fans, make them want to watch the games. Dedicate all our effort to the Selecao. And work at the club to be called up,” added Roque.
Brazil is coming off a forgettable 2023, as neither Ramon Menezes nor Fernando Diniz could settle into the role left by Tite after the early elimination from Qatar 2022. Therefore, Dorival’s challenge will not only be to achieve victories but also to restore credibility to a team with such a rich history.
Raphinha and Roque anticipate the Champions League match
In their interview, the Brazilians from Barça also discussed the matchup with Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
“There are eight title favorites, we knew that any team we faced would be tough, and PSG is no different, it will be a tough match, but we know what we can give and contribute to the victory to advance to the next round,” analyzed the winger.
“It will be two matches, we want to be champions, so we have to work well and secure qualification,” opined the former Athletico Paranaense player.
