Study, work and innovation: Barbieri begins a new phase in charge of Flamengo
Mauricio Barbieri talks about his work, goals at the club and the change from interim to coach of Rubro-Negro
By Lucas Dantas, Ricardo Taves and João Granette - in
An extreme scholar, spending late nights analyzing the next opponent. Watching other teams' games to see what the coaches are up to. Gathering reports after reports until he can finally say, "Okay, I learned what I needed to know about the next opponent," and then, finally, rest a bit. This is Mauricio Barbieri, Flamengo's coach, who took over the team on an interim basis in April and, since then, has qualified the team for the round of 16 of the CONMEBOL Libertadores, the quarterfinals of the Copa do Brasil, and put the Mais Querido (the "Most Beloved") at the top of the Brazilian Championship, four points ahead of the second-place team, before the World Cup break.
Acting as interim manager until June 28th, when he was officially appointed to the helm, he has the mission of establishing his name in the club's history books, as others have done before in similar situations. In fact, being interim manager at Flamengo is the first step toward establishing one's name in the pantheon of champions.
In charge of the team, he's already played 19 games, won 11, drawn six, and lost only one, in addition to achieving his goals. Satisfied? Not at all. Barbieri is relentless and wants more.
"It's a very special moment, the biggest challenge of my career. Being able to take over with the support of the fans is even more special. It's an important step, but not definitive. The main objective is to continue working as hard as possible so that the club can achieve its important goals."
To achieve his goals, Barbieri studies. Not just the next game, but also the previous one, other coaches, teams, and football as a whole. Not just to know what to do, but how it was done. History is important, and the coach believes that accumulating knowledge is crucial to knowing how to act in the future. He recognizes the importance of the greats in the profession and always seeks to keep up with them. At 22, he even interned with José Mourinho at Porto in 2004, where he saw the Portuguese team win everything up close, including the Club World Cup. Furthermore, Flamengo's style of passing the ball, constant pressure, and block-like attack and defense is no coincidence. There's a hint of the influence of the "teacher" he most admires: Guardiola.
"I try to listen to and study what coaches have to say. I like to look back and see what's already been done to inspire me. I've always admired and respected Paulo Autuori (Flamengo's coach in 1998), Telê Santana (1988-1989), Felipão, Parreira. Overseas, Guardiola contributed a lot to the game. Marcelo Bielsa from Argentina, José Pekerman from Colombia, the Italian Carlo Ancelotti. I could name many. But overall, I try to look at and improve with all of them. However, Guardiola's school is the one I identify with the most," he listed.
And they've learned well. Following Guardiola's approach, Flamengo always attacks and defends with a large number of players. Those who follow their training sessions will see that this is a hallmark of their work. They apply pressure when marking the ball out, constantly running, and the team dedicating themselves to multiple positions. The striker isn't just more of an attacker, but the midfielder isn't confined to midfield. Paquetá plays as a second midfielder and is one of the team's top scorers. Renê defends and also presents himself as one of the team's main attacking shortcuts. And everyone's participation is increasingly frequent, as exemplified by Felipe Vizeu's goal against Fluminense. There were 57 seconds of possession, 50 touches, and nine players involved until the striker finished.
"Flamengo has been attacking very well and, as a result, has also been defending better. The idea is for all 11 players to participate in both attack and defense, so we can continue to be strong in attack and strong in defense," summarized the coach, who doesn't like to take credit alone. Barbieri knows that football depends on teamwork, and one of his main characteristics is recognizing and supporting everyone around him.
"I have a lot of affection and respect for all the professionals and I'm concerned about recognizing everyone's involvement, whether on the field, in the kitchen, or in cleaning. They're all as essential as we are. It's dedication, respect, hard work, and camaraderie," explains the coach, who maintains his style outside of Ninho do Urubu.
With the World Cup break, Barbieri had more time to work and study. And, of course, spend time with his family. With his busy schedule, he barely gets to spend time at home and enjoy life as a father. But when he's with his family, he dedicates himself completely.
"I miss my family a lot, and they miss me too. The idea is to always be close, to be a father and a mother together, because my wife has to be a father too when I'm not there."
With a focus on results, Barbieri continues to build the team that leads the Brazilian Championship. With fresh ideas, references, and hard work, he's proving himself a name for the future of Brazilian football. And considering Flamengo's track record, the nation can be optimistic and hopeful.