Martín Anselmi gutted after another defeat: “I’m an idiot because we lost” | OneFootball

Botafogo suffered another defeat, this time at Estádio Nilton Santos, against Flamengo (0-3), and coach Martín Anselmi lost his patience when questioned about his choice to play with two center-backs instead of three.

“In the last game, in none of the matches did we play with three center-backs. Against Potosí, Mateo Ponte defended as a full-back, we played with four defenders. The same thing happened today. Today, explaining doesn’t make sense. No matter how much I explain, we lost. So I’m an idiot. I’m an idiot because we lost. That’s the truth. When the team loses, the coach is an idiot. The fans say I’m an idiot,” he vented.

The former FC Porto coach usually arrives early for press conferences after matches, but this time he was over an hour late and did not hide his deep disappointment. The defeat against Flamengo comes after being eliminated in the preliminary round of the Copa Libertadores by Barcelona de Guayaquil, from Ecuador.

“I know how the fans feel. Believe me, I know. I was a fan too, I also insulted, I also criticized. I traveled kilometers to support my team. So I know what they feel today. Nothing I say will change that feeling, it can’t be judged. Feelings can’t be judged. It is what it is. As a fan, I’m disappointed,” he emphasized.

Despite the new setback, the Argentine coach reaffirmed his dedication to the club. “All I can say is that, for me, today Botafogo is my life. That’s how it is. My life is Botafogo 24 hours a day. My family is in another country and I spend my days thinking about Botafogo. In the last game, in the pre-Libertadores, we couldn’t manage a draw. It’s hard to explain,” he said.

These are complicated days for Anselmi, with Botafogo in the relegation zone and another tough challenge ahead: the trip to Abel Ferreira’s Palmeiras is scheduled for next Wednesday.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.