Zanardi reveals details of Corinthians’ offer and defends work: “It didn’t fall into our lap out of friendship” | corinthians

Márcio Zanardi talks about Corinthians’ proposal: “It didn’t fall into our lap out of friendship”

The match between São Bernardo and Corinthians is remarkable for Márcio Zanardi. Current coach of the São Paulo ABC team, he could be occupying the other bench this Thursday, at 8 pm (Brasília time), at the Primeiro de Maio stadium, in São Bernardo do Campo.

In an interview with gethe São Bernardo commander recalled the proposal, the regulation that prevented him from taking over Corinthians and the main chance of his lost career, at least so far.

– When I received this proposal, because I received the proposal from Corinthians, from Augusto, it wasn’t a survey, it was a proposal, I just couldn’t go because of the regulations. There’s no problem, it happened. But there’s no frustration. Yes, there is recognition of a job well done, of a career that is being built and that this time, it didn’t work out.

– That anxiety, that happiness of thinking ‘I can be Corinthians coach’, I think anyone who works understands the magnitude of that. But, very down to earth, we knew the regulations, so at no point did either Corinthians or São Bernardo expose themselves. Nobody arrived, nobody made a presentation. I had approval from the Federation, if I could go, ok. As there was a refusal, everyone backed away and there was no problem – explains Zanardi.

Between 2012 and 2016, Márcio Zanardi managed Timão’s under-13, under-15 and under-17 teams and had good results on the field and in revealing players. During this period, he met and became friends with Augusto Melo, who was an advisor to the category during the administration of former president Roberto de Andrade, between 2015 and 2018.

Despite the relationship with the current president of Corinthians, Zanardi guarantees that the invitation made to coach the team has no connection with the bond between them.

– I was very happy that Augusto remembered me, because we have already worked together, he knows my ability, competence and honesty. I’m rooting for him a lot, but I was very happy. When you receive a proposal like this, it’s because you prepared yourself, it didn’t fall into my lap out of friendship. I’ve been in football since 2006, I did all the courses, all the preparation, everything I had to do, I delivered. This is a merit of our ongoing work.

– I was happy, flattered, but the page has already turned and I don’t believe in the saying that the horse only passes in front of you once. The opportunity passes and appears for those who are competent, so just prepare yourself, do the right thing, and other proposals and other opportunities will come – said Zanardi.

Márcio Zanardi was involved in a scandal at Corinthians’ base that came to light in 2017. At the time, the report from ge had access to audio recordings that showed bribery negotiations to recruit a player from Timão’s academy. Zanardi’s father, Wilson Zaponi, was named as one of those involved.

The coach was not mentioned in the recording, but one of the recruiters said he had influence on the technical committee of the Corinthians base. According to him, the bribe money would be shared among five members of the commission.

Zanardi once again denied any involvement in the case and said he cannot answer for any action taken by anyone else, including his father.

– I’m very calm about that. Corinthians is a very political club and when I became very close to Augusto, you end up being linked not by your competence but by what you are doing. When they linked my father in that Corinthians issue, I have a lot of peace of mind because I sent the player away, I have reports and they linked my father. I have to answer for my actions, I answer for what I do, not for what my father or anyone else does, no one has the autonomy and freedom to speak on my behalf.

– No problem, I have a lot of conviction. I have to satisfy Luca, my son, Sofia and my wife, who know what I do, what character I am, so no problem, I’m a very correct, very honest guy. The result and sequence of my career speaks for itself, I left Corinthians with 16 titles, I went to work at Portuguesa, I went to work at Santos, I went to work at São Bernardo and I am here today. So if my father was involved in A, B or C, he must be held accountable for his actions. I can only answer for anything else based on what I did, the only thing I said is that we have to be ready for all these questions – he said.

Márcio Zanardi plans a duel against Corinthians in the Copa do Brasil

The São Bernardo coach projects a game very different from the one won by his team against Corinthians in the classification phase of the Campeonato Paulista. Zanardi believes that Timão is experiencing a new moment of evolution and greater consistency compared to the team that entered the field on January 27th.

– A big team is a big team. We have to go with a lot of respect against a big team. Ali was going through a difficult time, confidence wasn’t high, you realize that there are times when everyone tries to do things and things don’t happen. Corinthians changed, put the team in a different direction, changed the coach, then the conviction comes, the victories appear. A big team with a lot of confidence, things work out very well, but I think we have to take advantage of this change. It’s been a short time of work, but we know that there are already very clear changes in behavior, posture, tactics.

– It’s our game of a lifetime, we don’t know when we’ll be able to play Corinthians again this year, there will probably only be this game. So we have to enjoy this moment, enjoy it, it’s a privilege for us to play a game of this size, but without a doubt we are studying, wanting to put São Bernardo on an increasingly higher level, with a lot of work, with a lot of humility, very down to earth – analyzed Zanardi.

São Bernardo 1 x 0 Corinthians: see how the match went for Paulistão

At São Bernardo since September 2021, Zanardi was champion of the Copa Paulista and gained access to Series C of the Brazilian Championship, guaranteeing an annual calendar for the São Paulo ABC team. In the last two editions of Paulistão he took the team to the quarterfinals.

Márcio Zanardi comments on long-term work in São Bernardo

São Bernardo was Zanardi’s first professional experience. The coach built a career in the youth categories of several clubs, passing through Santos, Guarani, Portuguesa and Al-Nasr.

In the position he currently holds, he has played 93 games, with 44 wins, 31 draws and 22 defeats. The utilization rate is just over 58%.

– I feel very privileged to be at the head of São Bernardo, a club that has an owner and sporting results, I don’t believe today in success, in work without having time to work, without having support, without having autonomy. I have a lot of autonomy, today I can discuss football with my staff, we live the CT 24 hours a day, but I am directly connected with Lucas [executivo] and with Roberto [CEO] to make the club’s biggest decisions, then it becomes much easier.

– I think that without this support, without this idea, without this conviction that management gives us, there is no way you can be successful. So the coach needs time to be able to put forward his ideas, put in place his protocols, institute the processes he wants, but he demands to work together with the management and the football executive – he said.

Márcio Zanardi is a football scholar. With fluent English, he has licenses from courses taken at the CBF, the AFA (Argentine Football Association) and UEFA. He is 45 years old and does not guarantee that he will remain at Bernô for the rest of the season.

– I’m a football professional, I have a contract until the end of the year, proposals happen. I leave it to my managers to resolve, I have a plan, I’m very happy at São Bernardo, I have my idea of ​​moving this team up to Series B, so whatever has to happen will happen. I’m not fooling myself, I’m very grounded and I’m 100% focused on São Bernardo.

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