Diniz: Coutinho nearly quit football, wants to help others | OneFootball

The coach Fernando Diniz revealed that Philippe Coutinho, midfielder for Vasco, had considered ending his career before returning to Brazilian football. The statement was made during the 2nd Brazilian Football Coaches Forum, held this Tuesday (4) in Rio de Janeiro.

During his speech, Diniz highlighted the human and emotional role of the coach, stating that Brazilian football needs more of a “psychosocial revolution” than a tactical one. The Vasco coach also criticized the way football is conducted in the country, advocating for greater attention to players' mental health.

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Coutinho and Fernando Diniz embrace during a Vasco match — Photo: Thiago Ribeiro/AGIF

– People look at me as if I were obsessed with the tactical part, but I'm obsessed with doing the best for the player. What I've pursued my entire life is to change the life of a John Kennedy, a Rayan, and people like that. Of Coutinho, who also needs help, because he has money, has been through big clubs, and played in the World Cup, but wanted to stop playing. Now he doesn't want to stop anymore. Deep down, everyone needs help — said Diniz.

A product of Vasco, Coutinho was revealed at São Januário and sold young to European football. He played for clubs like Inter Milan, Liverpool, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Aston Villa, as well as a stint at Al-Duhail in Qatar, before returning to the Cruz-Maltino last year.

Under Diniz's command, the number 10 found his good form again and regained prominence. In the current season, he has 11 goals and five assists in 47 games, being one of the team's technical and emotional leaders.

During the event, Diniz took the opportunity to reflect on the social role of the coach and the responsibility of dealing with athletes who, according to him, “arrive needy and thirsty for someone to take care of them.”

– The players come from underprivileged homes, from the favelas, and need almost everything. And we offer very little. The coach is, above all, an educator. I'm not a coach to win trophies, I'm a coach to transform lives. Titles are a consequence — he stated.

Diniz also criticized the overvaluation of foreign professionals and defended the appreciation of the Brazilian coach.

– It's a colonial complex. What comes from outside is good, what's here is bad. But we don't change journalists, we don't change directors, we only change coaches and players. The revolution in Brazil is more psychosocial than tactical, technical, or physical — he concluded.

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Photo: Matheus Lima/Vasco.

Diniz's statement resonated on social media, with fans and journalists praising the coach for his sensitivity and welcoming stance towards Coutinho and other players facing emotional difficulties in football.

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