Corinthians chief backs Dorival Júnior during team’s rough patch | OneFootball

On the night of last Wednesday (11), Corinthians reached four matches without a win this season after being defeated by Coritiba, 2-0, at the Neo Química Arena, in the fifth round of the Brazilian Championship. Previously, the Alvinegro was also beaten by Novorizontino in the state semifinals, by a score of 1-0, and drew 1-1 with Portuguesa (advanced on penalties) and Cruzeiro in matches valid for the quarterfinals of the Paulistão and Brasileirão, respectively.

The club from Parque São Jorge’s negative streak of results has increased the pressure around coach Dorival Júnior’s work, as reported by Central do Timão. However, in an interview with ge.globo, Corinthians’ football executive Marcelo Paz emphasized his confidence in the coach’s work, backing the professional for continued leadership of the team.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

“This pressure doesn’t reach me or the training center. I’m used to projects with continuity and I believe that’s the right path to achieve success. Day-to-day life is very harmonious and with daily dialogue,” he said in a statement to the portal. When he was part of Fortaleza’s management, serving as president and later CEO of the club, the executive kept Juan Pablo Vojvoda as head coach from May 2021 to July 2025, when he ended up leaving the position after a streak of nine matches without a win.

During that period, the northeastern team played in the 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 editions of the Libertadores, and was also a finalist in the Conmebol Sudamericana, finishing as runners-up after losing to LDU of Ecuador on penalties. On the other hand, they won three state championships (2021, 2022, and 2023) and two Copa do Nordeste titles (2022 and 2024).

Officially announced on April 28, 2025, Dorival Júnior is close to completing one year as Corinthians’ head coach. The last to achieve this was Fábio Carille, who led the Alvinegro from January 2017 to May 2018. Since then, all other coaches who have passed through the club have not reached or surpassed this milestone.

Last Friday (13), members of the main organized Corinthians supporters groups (Gaviões da Fiel, Camisa 12, Pavilhão Nove, Coringão Chopp, Fiel Macabra, and Estopim) were at CT Dr. Joaquim Grava to speak, in a tone of demand, with the players and team leaders about the sequence of negative results. Club directors, including Osmar Stabile and Marcelo Paz, were present.

Since his arrival at Corinthians, Dorival Júnior has managed 61 games, with 26 wins, 16 draws, and 19 losses, resulting in a 51.4% point percentage. In addition, he won the 2025 Copa do Brasil and the 2026 Supercopa do Brasil, against Vasco da Gama and Flamengo, respectively. This season, besides the Brasileirão, the club from Parque São Jorge is also competing in the Conmebol Libertadores and the Copa do Brasil.

It’s worth remembering that Corinthians returns to the pitch this Sunday (15), at 4 pm (Brasília time), to face Santos at Vila Belmiro, in a match for the sixth round of the 2026 Brazilian Championship. Currently, the Corinthians team is in tenth place with seven points – two wins, one draw, and two losses – five goals scored and five conceded.

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