Corinthians idol Marcelinho rates Dorival, says Memphis had a quiet spell | OneFootball

Idol of Corinthians, Marcelinho Carioca shared his opinion on Memphis Depay's time at the club. Last week, the Dutch player completed a year wearing the black and white jersey, but the former player views his journey so far as “discreet”, despite the good numbers.

In an exclusive interview with Gazeta Esportiva, Marcelinho questioned the high values involved in Memphis' contract and believes the athlete has not met expectations.

He also spoke about some controversies surrounding the forward, such as the jersey swap with Rodrigo Garro, who started wearing number 8 after Depay contractually took on number 10. In 52 games for Corinthians, the Dutch player has 15 goals and 14 assists, in addition to winning this year's Paulista title.

“It's a discreet passage. There was a lot of hype, but few results. This high hype was very expensive, and it resonates within the group. There was that time he insisted on wearing the number 10 jersey, which belonged to Garro, and that can create discomfort. Then he says the best physical trainer, physiotherapist, is so-and-so, undermining the entire physiotherapy department of Corinthians,” criticized Marcelinho Carioca.

“These frictions are very bad for the group, the players feel it. Some are afraid to report it and don't speak up, but whether you like it or not, it affects the field,” he added.

(Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians)

Dorival well evaluated

The work of Dorival Júnior, on the other hand, is well regarded by Marcelinho. The former player assesses that the coach is getting the team back on track and approves of the initiative to give opportunities to youth players, such as Gui Negão, Kayke, among others.

“Dorival is a winning coach, experienced, understands the locker room. He manages to overcome difficulties, exactly as is happening at Corinthians. They promised him reinforcements that didn't arrive. He is having to manage, prioritizing the youth. After the opportunity given to Gui Negão, the door opens for attention to be turned to other names from the youth team,” said Marcelinho Carioca.

“He managed to give consistency to the defense, which it didn't have. He has the personality to remove big-name players, like Memphis Depay himself, who hasn't been performing well, and has the autonomy to substitute to see how it fits better, what the best formation is. I believe he is now starting to give the team a better standard. You see that Corinthians wins games even without the big names,” he concluded.

Marcelinho's numbers for Corinthians

Considered one of the greatest idols in Corinthians' history, Marcelinho Carioca boasts impressive numbers for the black and white club.

In total, he has scored 206 goals in 433 matches wearing the Timão jersey, making him the fifth top scorer in the team's history. Additionally, he has won ten titles, including the 1995 Copa do Brasil, the 1998 and 1999 Brazilian Championships, not to mention the 2000 Club World Cup.

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