Mozer: "To win the Libertadores you need collective spirit"
The world champion visited Gávea on Monday afternoon (1/02) and talks about the emotions he felt during the Fla-Flu match
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
Even at 49, Mozer's elegance is impressive. As is his manner of speaking—with an accent heavily influenced by his time in Europe. One of the best defenders to ever wear the Flamengo jersey, Mozer possessed a class that even irritated teammates like Raul Plassmann. He confirms that in the 1981 World Cup, with the match already decided, he preferred to display his class rather than simply brush aside the typical crosses thrown by the British.
Mozer made his professional debut for Flamengo in July 1980. In almost seven years, the Rio native played in 293 matches, scoring 21 goals. With the Manto Sagrado, he won a lot: the Libertadores, the World Cup, two Brazilian championships (1982/83) and two state championships (1981/86). He left in June 1987 and headed to Europe, where he built a solid career with Benfica and Olympique de Marseille. He ended his career with Kashima Antlers and, in 2006, began his coaching career, working in Angola and with Raja Casablanca in Morocco.
The former player spent Monday afternoon in Gávea, where he gave this exclusive interview to Flamengo's official website. From the height of his enviable resume, which includes appearances in the Champions League, the player offers some advice to the group facing the challenge of fighting for a second Libertadores title.
Check out the interview.
Official site - What was it like watching the Fla-Flu match at Maracanã?
Mozer – It was incredibly emotional to watch the Fla-Flu match. My first game for the first team was against Fluminense, a 2-0 victory [Flamengo won with goals from Adílio and Tita, also for the Guanabara Cup, on July 13, 1980]. It had been a long time since I'd seen a game at Maracanã. Coaches' vacations are very limited because we participate in everything during the transfer window, not as players. The championship stops, and we keep working, and I was a bit deprived of coming to Brazil; when I did, it was very brief.
Official site - And what analysis do you make of the game?
Mozer – I was a little apprehensive. Fluminense had opened up with three goals. I was hoping for a turnaround. Flamengo is a club with its own style. And we saw a second half at a very high level. They managed to put on a performance that went down in history. A comeback that's not easy to achieve. The players played a key role. And Andrade was very fortunate with his substitutions. At the start of the second half, I was filled with hope that we wouldn't lose the game, and with the goals, the euphoria that we could turn it around. It's difficult to regain energy on a night with the temperature yesterday [Sunday] and set a pace like that. Everyone deserves congratulations for what they accomplished in yesterday's game. They had a typical Flamengo player reaction. Everyone left Maracanã happy.
Official site - Did Andrade's ability to change the game surprise you?
Mozer – It doesn't surprise me. He knows everything about football.
Official site - From someone who boasts Libertadores and World Cup titles on their resume, as well as a wealth of international experience, if you could give one piece of advice, what would it be for this group whose biggest goal this season is to win the Libertadores for the second time?
Mozer – My advice is that they don't lose what they achieved in the Brazilian Championship. The most important thing is unity and collective spirit over individual interests. Support Andrade, who has already experienced what they will now experience. May none of them overlook the ultimate exponent, which is the club. When you think like this, you achieve success. The players already did this last year. This year, more than ever, they need to stay on this path because everyone will want to beat Flamengo. If they are united, it will be difficult for them to fail to achieve their goals.
Official site - What is your memory of the Libertadores Cup won in 1981?
Mozer – We saw the suffering we felt from the attacks our players suffered. And it wasn't just against Cobreloa, either. It was also in the game against Olímpia. That increasingly united us to defeat them. Our directors also suffered attacks in the stadium. Paulo Dantas, for example. They beat him up in the crowd. The atmosphere back then was one of guerrilla warfare. And our team was only concerned with playing football.
Official site - Are you still greeted by fans on the streets, abroad, for these achievements?
Mozer – Always. These are achievements that leave an impression on the public. Players can't achieve the same level of importance as this euphoria that infects the public. It lasts forever. My generation has been experiencing that for almost 30 years. It's important to create the habit and culture of winning to give back to the fans. The only way is through victories.
Official site - Who were the best attackers you faced?
Mozer – There were three: Reinaldo (Atlético-MG), Careca (Guarani, São Paulo, Napoli), and Marco Van Basten (Milan). Their individual quality was immense. It was difficult to know what they were planning to do. Thank God, I never played against Zico.
Official site - And what about that typically Portuguese accent and expressions, like "equipa" and "historial"?
Mozer – Junior [former player with multiple championships for Flamengo, now a commentator for TV Globo] really messes with me. I'm even giving him a few days to meet up, to see if he can tone down his accent a bit (laughs).
Official site - What was your unforgettable game for Flamengo?
Mozer – There are several. My debut against Fluminense (1980), the sequence against Cobreloa (1981), a game against Santos in which I scored two goals (1984) and, of course, the World Cup.
Official site - One of the many stories that then-goalkeeper Raul Plassmann, now a commentator, tells about that game is that you made some frills late in the match against Liverpool. Is that true?
Mozer – That story is true (laughs). They looked at us before the game and laughed their heads off. When they were already dead, with the score 3-0, I had the chance to make a joke.
Official site - What are your plans? Coaching a team in Brazil?
Mozer – Brazilian football is going through a good time. Structurally, it's different. The country is a powerhouse. It's a more advantageous situation. The current situation allows for better work, for people to live with dignity, without having to leave. Players are leaving at a very young age now, but there's significant turnover, and there's always quality talent to work with.
Official site - Is the fact that your colleagues like Andrade and Bebeto are now coaching clubs in Rio an incentive?
Mozer – It's an opportunity that doesn't come around often, especially in Portugal. Brazil is giving a new generation of coaches a chance. I watched América's game, and Bebeto's team played very well.
Official site - Do any of your children play ball?
Mozer – I have four children. Daniel, 18, is a center-back with a lot of talent. I'm trying to convince him to return to playing. I'd like him to return to Flamengo.
Mozer made his professional debut for Flamengo in July 1980. In almost seven years, the Rio native played in 293 matches, scoring 21 goals. With the Manto Sagrado, he won a lot: the Libertadores, the World Cup, two Brazilian championships (1982/83) and two state championships (1981/86). He left in June 1987 and headed to Europe, where he built a solid career with Benfica and Olympique de Marseille. He ended his career with Kashima Antlers and, in 2006, began his coaching career, working in Angola and with Raja Casablanca in Morocco.
The former player spent Monday afternoon in Gávea, where he gave this exclusive interview to Flamengo's official website. From the height of his enviable resume, which includes appearances in the Champions League, the player offers some advice to the group facing the challenge of fighting for a second Libertadores title.
Check out the interview.
Official site - What was it like watching the Fla-Flu match at Maracanã?
Mozer – It was incredibly emotional to watch the Fla-Flu match. My first game for the first team was against Fluminense, a 2-0 victory [Flamengo won with goals from Adílio and Tita, also for the Guanabara Cup, on July 13, 1980]. It had been a long time since I'd seen a game at Maracanã. Coaches' vacations are very limited because we participate in everything during the transfer window, not as players. The championship stops, and we keep working, and I was a bit deprived of coming to Brazil; when I did, it was very brief.
Official site - And what analysis do you make of the game?
Mozer – I was a little apprehensive. Fluminense had opened up with three goals. I was hoping for a turnaround. Flamengo is a club with its own style. And we saw a second half at a very high level. They managed to put on a performance that went down in history. A comeback that's not easy to achieve. The players played a key role. And Andrade was very fortunate with his substitutions. At the start of the second half, I was filled with hope that we wouldn't lose the game, and with the goals, the euphoria that we could turn it around. It's difficult to regain energy on a night with the temperature yesterday [Sunday] and set a pace like that. Everyone deserves congratulations for what they accomplished in yesterday's game. They had a typical Flamengo player reaction. Everyone left Maracanã happy.
Official site - Did Andrade's ability to change the game surprise you?
Mozer – It doesn't surprise me. He knows everything about football.
Official site - From someone who boasts Libertadores and World Cup titles on their resume, as well as a wealth of international experience, if you could give one piece of advice, what would it be for this group whose biggest goal this season is to win the Libertadores for the second time?
Mozer – My advice is that they don't lose what they achieved in the Brazilian Championship. The most important thing is unity and collective spirit over individual interests. Support Andrade, who has already experienced what they will now experience. May none of them overlook the ultimate exponent, which is the club. When you think like this, you achieve success. The players already did this last year. This year, more than ever, they need to stay on this path because everyone will want to beat Flamengo. If they are united, it will be difficult for them to fail to achieve their goals.
Official site - What is your memory of the Libertadores Cup won in 1981?
Mozer – We saw the suffering we felt from the attacks our players suffered. And it wasn't just against Cobreloa, either. It was also in the game against Olímpia. That increasingly united us to defeat them. Our directors also suffered attacks in the stadium. Paulo Dantas, for example. They beat him up in the crowd. The atmosphere back then was one of guerrilla warfare. And our team was only concerned with playing football.
Official site - Are you still greeted by fans on the streets, abroad, for these achievements?
Mozer – Always. These are achievements that leave an impression on the public. Players can't achieve the same level of importance as this euphoria that infects the public. It lasts forever. My generation has been experiencing that for almost 30 years. It's important to create the habit and culture of winning to give back to the fans. The only way is through victories.
Official site - Who were the best attackers you faced?
Mozer – There were three: Reinaldo (Atlético-MG), Careca (Guarani, São Paulo, Napoli), and Marco Van Basten (Milan). Their individual quality was immense. It was difficult to know what they were planning to do. Thank God, I never played against Zico.
Official site - And what about that typically Portuguese accent and expressions, like "equipa" and "historial"?
Mozer – Junior [former player with multiple championships for Flamengo, now a commentator for TV Globo] really messes with me. I'm even giving him a few days to meet up, to see if he can tone down his accent a bit (laughs).
Official site - What was your unforgettable game for Flamengo?
Mozer – There are several. My debut against Fluminense (1980), the sequence against Cobreloa (1981), a game against Santos in which I scored two goals (1984) and, of course, the World Cup.
Official site - One of the many stories that then-goalkeeper Raul Plassmann, now a commentator, tells about that game is that you made some frills late in the match against Liverpool. Is that true?
Mozer – That story is true (laughs). They looked at us before the game and laughed their heads off. When they were already dead, with the score 3-0, I had the chance to make a joke.
Official site - What are your plans? Coaching a team in Brazil?
Mozer – Brazilian football is going through a good time. Structurally, it's different. The country is a powerhouse. It's a more advantageous situation. The current situation allows for better work, for people to live with dignity, without having to leave. Players are leaving at a very young age now, but there's significant turnover, and there's always quality talent to work with.
Official site - Is the fact that your colleagues like Andrade and Bebeto are now coaching clubs in Rio an incentive?
Mozer – It's an opportunity that doesn't come around often, especially in Portugal. Brazil is giving a new generation of coaches a chance. I watched América's game, and Bebeto's team played very well.
Official site - Do any of your children play ball?
Mozer – I have four children. Daniel, 18, is a center-back with a lot of talent. I'm trying to convince him to return to playing. I'd like him to return to Flamengo.