Dorival Jr on 'debt' to Corinthians, praises Fiel, eyes Copa do Brasil

In partnership with

Central do Timão

·24 de diciembre de 2025

Dorival Jr on 'debt' to Corinthians, praises Fiel, eyes Copa do Brasil

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Corinthians, late last Sunday night (21), won their fourth Copa do Brasil title (1995, 2002, 2009, and 2025) by defeating Vasco da Gama at Maracanã Stadium, with a score of 2 x 1. For the Alvinegro, strikers Yuri Alberto and Memphis Depay scored the goals.

Moments after the final whistle, Corinthians coach Dorival Júnior gave a press conference and mentioned a debt he owed the club from 2022. That year, when he was in charge of Flamengo, he won the Copa do Brasil at Maracanã against the club from Parque São Jorge, winning 6 x 5 on penalties after a 1 x 1 draw in regular time.

OneFootball Videos

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

“I think I owed them something, it was two years, two eliminations, and whenever I came across a Corinthians fan during that whole period, they would remind me of this situation. I think today, thank God, I managed to give back by being on their side,” he began.

He then mentioned the importance of the Corinthians fans throughout the season, especially in the decisive Copa do Brasil matches. When the team traveled to Rio de Janeiro last Saturday (20), several fans came to support the squad as they left CT Dr. Joaquim Grava for the airport. There are images of the Fiel Torcida blocking the Ayrton Senna highway, near the Alvinegro’s training ground.

“And it’s impressive what this fanbase did. Since the last matches we played. What happened yesterday when we left the training center. I’ve rarely seen a situation like that, and I can only thank and praise the participation of all of them. This title was for them, because they believed until the last moment. There was never a fanbase, even when we were defeated at home in some moments of the Brazilian Championship, even when playing well, that showed any booing, any negative reaction. And that gave us strength and showed us that we had an important path.”

Next, he analyzed Corinthians’ season. The coach was announced by the club on April 28 to replace Ramón Díaz, who was fired two weeks after winning the 2025 Paulista Championship against Palmeiras. In the Brazilian Championship, the Alvinegro finished only 13th with 47 points (12 wins, 11 draws, and 15 losses – 42 goals scored and 47 conceded). In the Copa Sudamericana, Dorival took over from the fourth round of the group stage.

The team ended up being eliminated in that very stage, earning four points in the last three rounds. On the other hand, the Alvinegro won the 2025 Copa do Brasil – Dorival led from the start – eliminating: Novorizontino (third round), Palmeiras (round of 16), Athletico-PR (quarterfinals), Cruzeiro (semifinal), and Vasco da Gama (final). In total, there were eight wins, one draw, and one loss – 12 goals scored and three conceded.

He also mentioned the club’s financial and institutional difficulties. Since mid-August, Corinthians has had a transfer ban from FIFA due to a debt of R$ 40 million with Santos Laguna, Mexico, for the signing of defender Félix Torres in January 2024. In 2025, there were only two signings: left-back Fabrizio Angileri and midfielder Vitinho.

“We had a complicated year, because of the many problems I mentioned to you. I’m not going to list every one of them here. But we needed to make some corrections within our working group, with certain characteristics of players that we don’t have,” he continued.

He also highlighted the promotion of young players from Corinthians’ youth academy, such as midfielder André, midfielder Luiz Gustavo Bahia, playmaker Dieguinho, and striker Gui Negão. The coach also mentioned the difficulties of improvising players in certain areas of the field.

“So we had to adapt to what we had, plus those players we brought in and prepared so that at some point they could be launched into the first team. In the case of André, Gui Negão, Bahia, Dieguinho, boys who were prepared to be launched, they weren’t thrown to the lions in the team. Because of all these problems, just so you have an idea, I had all the players available. Rare exceptions were in the medical department, only in the last five games, where I could choose, look, I’ll take A, not B, I’ll take A, D, not F, because of positioning and needs, at no point in the championship did we have that. We had many difficulties, playing with several players out of position, with several athletes doing two, sometimes three roles on the field. We changed the squad a lot, created several situations, we gave our all, we dove in completely.”

He also added the dedication of the coaching staff on a daily basis, the importance of the title for his career and for the club, and sent a message to critics who, at times, went too far in questioning his work at Parque São Jorge: “At Corinthians, we arrive every day at 6:30, 7:00 a.m., and leave at 8:00 p.m., and that’s the whole staff. It’s total commitment to work, because we needed it, given the difficulties we faced. I arrived at Corinthians in April, I had a two-day visit to my family in Florianópolis, never went back there, because I gave everything. So that something positive could happen. And thank God, it wasn’t by chance, a team that wins all its matches away from home, a team that has a campaign like we did. It deserves respect, recognition, consideration. And until the last round, that didn’t exist. Everyone was already saying the finals would be played by other teams, not by the teams that listened to them.”

“And I think, once again, we showed that you have to trust yourself, your work, your dedication, your commitment. You have to know that if at some point someone tries to correct your life, it’s the people you take advice from, not others, because otherwise you would have stopped halfway a long time ago, due to this general mistrust. So, all I have to say is that work, once again, does bear fruit, much because of the commitment, dedication, and selflessness of a group that was willing to give up everything to work for a team. And you can be sure it wasn’t by chance. This result is very important. In the last three years, to finish a Libertadores undefeated, to win a Copa do Brasil like we did, conceding only three goals and losing only once, you can be sure, it’s not for just anyone. You have to have, you have to have. Sorry for the word, but you have to have a lot to withstand everything that happened. Yes. I feel like speaking out. And addressing those who spoke, especially those who criticized and crossed into the political side. Even going to the personal side,” he added.

Dorival spoke again about the Corinthians fanbase and was asked about winning his fourth Copa do Brasil title as a coach (1995, 2002, 2009, and 2025).

“And once again, many doubts, even with people knowing everything that happened to Corinthians throughout this whole process. So, to all those who trusted, who believed, my heartfelt thanks. Those who were skeptical, who joked, who mocked, unfortunately, all I can do is wish you a good night and thank you. Because you only motivated us to grow, to improve. And to seek even more. An achievement like today’s that values all the work of a coaching staff and a board, and above all, recognition for what the fans did for all of us. In every game, in every match, even in difficult moments, without results.”

“First of all, I had just left the national team. And I intended not to work this year. But it’s funny how the conversations happened, and I had already talked to other clubs. I wasn’t in the right moment to take on a new job in sequence. The first contact I had with Fabinho, and even going against my family’s wishes, I decided to accept the invitation because I felt I needed to give myself an answer, because of everything that happened with the national team. The criticism, the mockery, the jokes that people sometimes make without caring about the personal side of a human being.”

The coach also added: “And that happened. It was all very heavy. Very heavy because the criticism was huge, the difficulties were huge. And I really only had support from a few people. Funny, even knowing my history in football. Few people at that moment reached out to me. And I can only thank those people who kept believing in my work. Yes, regardless of the moment, the situation. Recognizing that before being a professional, there is the human side of a person. And it was a very heavy moment in every sense. And then I had it inside me that I needed to give myself an answer. That’s why I accepted Corinthians’ invitation. A difficult, complicated situation, as it was throughout the year. No one has any idea of the difficulties we had, the problems we faced. Some are talked about, many others, thank God, never left the training center. And with all that, we managed, step by step, to build a campaign that, in my view, is a historic campaign, once again.”

Check out other responses from the coach in the press conference below

Praise for Fabinho Soldado for shielding the squad amid off-field issues:

“Well, what can I say about Fabinho, I don’t even need to say anything. Good. He’s one of the greatest professionals I’ve ever worked with. He will certainly grow a lot in his career and life, for the person he is, for his seriousness and professionalism, as well as his competence. Yes. The president tried to give us all the possibilities so that we could move forward in the most complicated moments, or rather, walk through the most complicated and difficult moments and do very serious work within the club. Ah. Together with his entire board. We did have many situations that were destabilizing throughout this whole process. Ah. But the main thing, I think, is that we didn’t open up, we closed ranks. We strengthened ourselves internally, looked for alternatives where sometimes there were none. We went after options, situations that helped us reach a moment like this.”

Reason for starting Rodrigo Garro on the bench – he came on halfway through the second half:

“It’s the moment, Garro is working very hard to regain his best form and it still wasn’t happening, but he’s a very important player for us. He was a difference-maker last year. He had a series of problems and all that ended up making his recovery more difficult. A week ago everyone was questioning this same player. Everyone questioned Yuri. Everyone was calling for these players to be dropped. And the coach’s job is just that, not to give up on the player at any time. Funny that today they were a difference-maker for our team and were a decisive factor in our result. If I had given up on these players, who knows, we might have had much more difficulty here and not found the result we did.”

On being the biggest Copa do Brasil champion alongside Felipão – four titles:

“Well, first, it’s a pleasure to have won with every team I reached, that I managed to help achieve this remarkable result. Second, I think it’s a huge responsibility. Yes. To win a competition like this. Three big teams from São Paulo. Plus Flamengo here in Rio. I think that’s priceless. They were very serious jobs, with many difficulties. Each one with its own particularities, but all of great value, for me, significant. An achievement that highlights all the work of a great team behind the scenes. I am just another member of this whole process. And I think it was the support of all of them that made us do work like this.”

“Very satisfied with everything I’ve seen, with what’s happening at Corinthians. And two championships, two titles won. Except for Flamengo, who had two brilliant wins – the Brazilian Championship and Libertadores – Corinthians was the biggest champion, the second biggest champion in the country with the Paulista Championship and a Copa do Brasil. I think that’s very important. It’s a landmark moment in the history of a club that’s been going through great difficulties and, even so, with the presence of its fans, who made the difference. It keeps us alive and always fighting for an important place in Brazilian football.”

Mental aspect to withstand the daily life of a football coach:

“I think there’s only one word: if you don’t have a solid family and, above all, God in your heart, you end up falling by the wayside. And that inner strength comes precisely from that, from a family that gives me important support. And from God the Father, to whom we can only give thanks, for allowing me to live a moment like this that I’ve been experiencing in recent years. There are 20 titles contested, 15 won, five runners-up. In jobs where I practically started many of them. Jobs where I took over teams in very complicated and difficult situations. Rarely did I have a team already assembled in my hands, performing. I never had that, maybe, never had the chance to sign whoever I wanted.”

“I always found situations within these teams or went looking in the youth academy. I really value the work I’ve done over the years. Because it was always very difficult and valuable in every team I went through. Taking seven teams out of the relegation zone. Something few coaches ever do. I was never afraid. I faced every situation. That’s why I feel prepared for the moments I’ve lived. And that I would have delivered, God willing, also with the national team if I had had the chance to finish the job I wanted. I wish Ancelotti all the luck in the world, lots of light on his path. I had this opportunity. I value it a lot because I didn’t get there by chance. But maybe I would have been luckier if I could have finished it all.”

Conversations with Yuri Alberto – the team’s top scorer in 2025 with 19 goals and three assists:

“Look, I think the questioning always happens, the doubts are getting bigger and bigger. And people want change all the time and it’s not always like that. That’s why the coach’s job is to believe in the players who are there, to trust what they’re doing. And it’s funny that yesterday, in the training before the final, a similar play, Memphis scored in the same way. And I was out there, I said, wow, maybe tomorrow we’ll have a play like that because of the movements we’ve been working on for years.”

“And it was a very well-organized move, guided with the run, the through ball, the cross into the area, and the finish. I think, once again, it shows us that you have to believe, you have to trust, you have to repeat in football for things to happen. And today it’s confirmed once again what we did yesterday. We have yesterday’s play recorded, you’ll see. If we happen to show it. A similar play for Memphis to finish. And it ended up happening in today’s game.”

Did you expect to end the year with a title for Corinthians after the 4 x 0 against Flamengo (sixth round of the Brasileirão – Maracanã) watched from the stands?

“So, I said earlier that on that very day I told them to get ready because they would play the Copa do Brasil final. Of course, after a 4-0 defeat, few would have believed, as happened at another club as well, in the same way. Few believed there. And I think, once again, with work, dedication, a lot of commitment, it ends up happening. I think that’s it, to believe in yourself. That’s why I say. We have to worry about the people we take advice from, who come and point out some problems we’re having.”

“When these problems are pointed out by outsiders, ignore them. Keep believing, keep working, keep dedicating yourself. For me, that’s the only way. There’s no other. Why? Because no one wants to see you succeed. Unfortunately, people don’t want to see you succeed. That’s why there’s so much doubt, so much negativity, so much uncertainty, so many questions about people’s work. It happens to everyone, especially in our country, in every professional activity. Not just in football. That’s why I always believed a lot in what I could leave, deliver, and accomplish. And I dedicated myself so that things would happen.”

See More: