Gaviões chief on Corinthians crisis: “They got the manager sacked” | OneFootball

On the night of this Sunday (5), Corinthians hosted Internacional at Neo Química Arena for the tenth round of the 2026 Brazilian Championship and were defeated 1-0. The result left the team one spot above the relegation zone with 10 points — two wins, four draws, and four losses — with eight goals scored and 11 conceded.

The setback also extended the team’s poor run this season, as they have now gone nine matches without a win, with five draws and four losses. Corinthians’ last victory came on February 19, against Athletico-PR, by 1-0, at Arena da Baixada, in the second round of the national competition. After the match, head coach Dorival Júnior was ultimately dismissed from the position.

Photo: Central do Timão

After the match, members of Corinthians’ organized supporter groups headed to the front of the Arena parking lot, where the team bus passes, to protest. There, Gaviões da Fiel president Alexandre Domênico, known as Alê, gave an interview to Energia 97. In addition to criticizing the players for their attitude on the field in recent matches, he also called out the club’s directors over the turbulent political situation, which has ended up affecting things on the pitch.

“To the players. We also can’t forget the directors, right? They’re only thinking about politics inside the club and forgetting the main part, which is the field too. A message to the directors: if you don’t fix this mess, there won’t even be an election. The fans won’t allow an election to happen. There’s no point debating politics when there’s this mess at every level. Corinthians’ entire political situation is spilling over here too, look. It’s reaching the field as well,” he said.

He then turned back to the players, stressing that they were the ones responsible for coach Dorival Júnior’s downfall. At the same time, Alê highlighted the team’s lack of progress even with the long breaks for training.

“As for the players, we’ve already talked once, twice, three times, four times. Clearly, these guys got the coach fired. Clearly, for us here, their lack of desire is out in the open. Anyone who wants to leave can leave, man. No problem at all. Let only the fans stay here, and whoever wants to represent our badge, that’s fine. But we’re not going to accept this anymore. Our patience is over. I told them, man. We talked once, twice, three times. The last time, the message was stronger. We called all the players, because (normally) when we go there, they only bring six or seven players who are the leaders, right? Incredibly enough, this squad has leaders, right? But now, we spoke to every player. None of them wants to show some shame. They’re taking the Fiel Torcida, the guys who travel, you can see the price of the... We’re paying dearly, out of our own pockets. And these guys personally represent nothing in Corinthians’ history.”

“Dorival Júnior, everyone saw it, also had shortcomings. This guy doesn’t have a squad, but he’s also to blame. He had days to train and there wasn’t a single tactical change. All this stoppage, the FIFA date. He’s also to blame. But another coach will come in and it’ll be the same thing, this stagnation everyone is seeing. A team with no desire,” he continued.

The president of Gaviões da Fiel also commented on the team’s loss of strength and momentum at Neo Química Arena in recent months: “Anyone who comes here doesn’t respect Itaquera anymore. These guys are managing to bring down our stands, man! The fans show up full of energy to sing and push Corinthians on, and these guys can’t even get a shot on target. They can’t even win a corner. Nothing. Corinthians is not this. We know these guys have priorities in the competitions. We’re not going to accept that. From the moment the Fiel Torcida leaves home, they don’t care whether it’s the Paulista Championship, the Brazilian Championship, or the Libertadores. It’s Corinthians. So we’re not going to accept this stagnation anymore, this lack of fight, this lack of attitude on the field. It’s over.”

Next Thursday (9), at 9 p.m., Corinthians will make their Conmebol Libertadores debut against Platense of Argentina, away from home. Alê highlighted the club’s lack of planning regarding the international tournament and reaffirmed that, unlike in 2024, when the team was in the relegation zone and the supporters backed the cause, the demands will now be different.

“You can see the atmosphere, right? We’re going to make our Libertadores debut without a coach. We’re going to face our main rival without a coach. There’s no planning. Corinthians is at rock bottom. Actually, in the dead volume. It’ll have to go a little farther (to reach rock bottom). We don’t expect anything anymore. Only in the Fiel Torcida, believing in its essence, in its roots. All we asked for was fight, man. We’re tired of talking to these guys. Their peace is over. That’s it. That idea we talked about, friendly... we’re not going to romanticize things like we did in 2024. That unity, poropopó. Not now. The Fiel Torcida can’t take it anymore. Tomorrow it’ll be a laughingstock again. You know that annoying Corinthians fan? These guys managed to finish him off. Corinthians is walking around with its head down. We told them that, depending on the loss, we can even accept it. If it was with grit, if it was with fight. But the way these guys are playing, no. It’s to get the coach fired. Or they really are just this bad... then there’s nothing to be done,” he said.

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