Tite joined Corinthians towards the back end of 2010 Brasileiro after a difficult spell for the club but he ensured Copa Libertadores qualification going undefeated and securing third position. Since then he has built a team based on a rock-solid defence, a pragmatic style of football and a tremendous team spirit. But following their recent successes the back line that proved so resolute may finally broken apart by the transfer market.
After suffering an embarrassing elimination to Deportes Tolima in the preliminary stages of the 2011 Libertadores the coach narrowly held onto his job after getting to the Paulista state championship final, only to be defeated by Santos. It was not always easy, but huge credit must go to the directors at Corinthians who stuck with Tite throughout 2011 despite over-the-top calls for him to be dismissed.
They have since reaped unimaginable benefits, beginning with lifting the 2011 Brasileiro title. Tite has forged a solid defence that made his team extremely difficult to beat. Along with the double-pivot of Ralf and Paulinho, Corinthians are a staunch opponent that frequently stifle even the most creative of opposition.
Paulinho also has a huge role going forwards too. He led the transitions from defence to attack, carrying the ball forward at pace before passing the ball on to the forwards. He also managed to chip in with eight goals from his deep position during the Brasileiro campaign while Ralf's defensive work earning him a call-up to Mano Menezes Brazil squad where he earned four international caps.
Yet there was no stand-out player in the Corinthians line-up. Players such as Alex and Liedson will be known by European fans, yet Tite did not mould his squad around them. His team was highly interchangeable which created a fantastic group ethic where every player worked for each other.
Their defensive solidity stood them in good stead for their resultant Libertadores campaign. On their run to the final Corinthians only conceded 3 goals in 12 games. Their lack of reliance on any individuals equated to collective responsibility. If one player had an off day then the team still performed. Of course this is not always the case when a team focuses the way they play through one or two individuals.
Despite seeing very little of the ball, the Musketeers managed to hold Boca Juniors to just one goal in front of a raucous crowd at La Bombonera in the first leg of the Libertadores final. Even Juan Roman Riquelme could not unlock the stalwart defence. He fared no better in the second leg as Ralf acted as the Argentine wizard's shadow.
Boca had proved they were worthy of the final after making Universidad de Chile look like an absurdly average side. But in both legs Tite got his tactics spot on, lining up on both occasions without a central striker. With their own crowd behind them Corinthians contained the Xeneize and surged to their first ever Libertadores title.
But with their success based on a solid defence, how will the departure of Leandro Castan to Roma and rumours that Chicao could soon follow effect the team?
Paulo Andre will still be around but he is only just returning from a five-month spell on the sidelines. Wallace, Marquinhos and Antonio Carlos are not of the same standard with the latter two far too inexperienced to fill in so Tite will need to delve into the transfer market. They need a cool and experienced centre-back to replace the potential losses. The Timao will need to be meticulous in the selection of their reinforcements or they could risk destroying the basis of their success. Paulinho could also be on his way to Europe and that would be the hardest of all to replace due to his dynamic virtues in the middle of the park.
Corinthians have proved that team spirit can count a lot for football and while they may not possess one talismanic player, they have a hugely influential coach who can instead call upon an eleven-man strong, tight-knit, cohesive unit. But the club must avoid complacency in the coming year with a spot in the next Libertadores already confirmed and think long and hard about the players worthy of joining such an esteemed defence.
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