Roger Machado: Watched all São Paulo games, on winning over fans | OneFootball

Coach Roger Machado gave his first press conference as São Paulo's new hire on Tuesday night (10) at the Barra Funda training center. He signed a contract with the Tricolor until December 2026.

Despite the overwhelming rejection from the fans, the new coach tried to introduce himself to the apprehensive São Paulo supporters through good dialogue. He showed himself to be a great student of football, mentioning that he watched all the team's games under his predecessor Hernán Crespo.

“I watched all the games. Even being out of the market, it's not about seeking someone’s position, but analyzing models, athletes, to keep constantly evolving. What I saw from São Paulo's game and the squad the club has is that it's balanced, with characteristics that allow for different systems. That's how Crespo used it, with three defenders, a line of two, a front triangle, a playmaker, wide wingers. These are variations that allow for a broader range and working with different systems,” evaluated the coach from Rio Grande do Sul.

“From this moment on, I will take advantage of many things that were already in place and start implementing important aspects of my game. I like to have a balanced team, but one with an offensive vocation. This was one of the determining factors for promptly accepting to be here. I identify with the way São Paulo has historically played, always seeking the goal, with a showy game.”

“One of the first things I said to the athletes is that we have the duty to keep the flame of winning titles always burning. A big club must always aim for first place. I found athletes very willing and eager to learn, which will lead them to great victories. You can see it in the athlete's eyes. We are going to build something that will take us into the history of this club. You see the look, the nod of these players who want to be part of São Paulo's history,” completed Roger.

The Tricolor fans were overwhelmingly against the coach's arrival, with many expressions on social media. The topic was addressed in the coach's presentation press conference, where he explained how he intends to change the situation.

“With a lot of work. In life, some arrive more esteemed, others less, but everyone earns the fans' trust through work and results. The evaluation of the work is the game. I like internal prestige; externally, validation comes with results, which sometimes happen more or less, in a way that the fan identifies with on the field, with the way the coach proposes the game.”

“I envision a way for this team to play, and I want the fans to identify with it and want to come to the field to see their team play. There is no other way; it’s work. I know I have to earn the fans' trust, it has never been different. I am sure they will embrace me,” he said.

“Unfortunately or not, we live by victory. I have arrived at places esteemed and left unesteemed, and the opposite has happened; it's part of our life. That doesn't scare me.”

DOES PRESSURE SCARE YOU?

“I am not scared by it; I trust my work. My life has been like this. I went for a trial to become a player at 17, and they said it was late. I played my first professional match, came home, and my mother was reading the newspaper saying that the evaluation of my game suggested Grêmio should look for another full-back because that one couldn’t play, and I played 505 games for the club.”

“When I wanted to become a coach, they said there are few black coaches in football, you wouldn't be the exception, and I am the exception. Life is full of trials, and this is a great opportunity. I cannot allow myself to pass through São Paulo without this experience and wanting to build this history. I need to do something here that makes me want to return, and that is achievement. We are tested every day. What all players need to build is self-esteem to deal with the pressures of daily life,” concluded Roger Machado in his presentation at Tricolor.

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