Relive Tite’s journey with Cruzeiro.

The manager led the team in 17 matches.

After another disappointing performance, Cruzeiro decided to end coach Tite’s tenure on Sunday night (15). The game brought an end to a trajectory that didn’t even take off with a title against their biggest rival.

Tite was announced back in December, shortly after Leonardo Jardim’s departure. However, he only started his job at the beginning of January. Initially, president Pedro Lourenço praised the magnitude of the signing.

“Tite needs no introduction. His selection was always a priority, given the work he’s done. Two World Cups, champion of everything he’s ever competed for. The regional championships he played in when he was a mediocre player in Rio Grande do Sul. He’s a very serious guy, the conversation was easy. He’s an honest person. I said I would bring in a coach worthy of Cruzeiro, that the team deserves, that the fans deserve. We brought in a coach worthy of Cruzeiro. His mission is to bring titles, that’s all. He has so many, three is good,” commented Pedrinho at the coach’s presentation.

With little training time, their debut was negative, with a 2-1 defeat to Pouso Alegre, but with a reserve team.

Immediately afterwards, the coach won against Tombense, away from home, by 2-1. Against Uberlândia, perhaps the only moment that excited the fans during his tenure, was the 5-0 thrashing. He didn’t know it yet, but the performance was truly above average for what was to come.

“This is a working team. At some point, they will be used as needed. Everyone is important. I say this publicly, I believe it. Today’s work, with a performance above expectations. It was a normal presentation, but it was on a higher level,” commented Tite.

After two wins, Cruzeiro lost three consecutive matches, leaving a huge wound in the manager’s work, who then faced questions about his position. The team lost 1-0 to Democrata and 2-1 in the derby against Atlético-MG. Then came the hardest blow: a 4-0 thrashing by Botafogo.

“Perhaps the biggest mistake was the strategy of preserving the team to regain rhythm. They could have played more games, even risking injury. They could have been more in rhythm. They could have had better behavior and rhythm like last year,” the coach analyzed.

“The game, the circumstances of the game, the wide score, the second goal was decisive. It happened when we were making the substitution. Jonathan felt something, but didn’t want to leave, the referee hurried him on. We conceded the second goal and from then on it became a different game. And the greatness of Cruzeiro doesn’t allow for such a wide scoreline,” the coach continued.

Cruzeiro managed to react and beat Betim in a crucial match for the team’s chances in the Campeonato Mineiro. But subsequently, they lost to Coritiba 2-1 in a memorable game, where the team played well but showed weaknesses.

“It was a game with two distinct halves. The first half was high-scoring, with many opportunities. We could have scored a second goal; effectiveness counts. We conceded the equalizer. In the second half, during a counter-attack, we unfortunately conceded a second goal. We didn’t have enough strength to fight back for the equalizer and the win,” Tite analyzed.

After that, Cruzeiro went on a seven-game unbeaten run, beating América (2-1), URT (2-1), Pouso Alegre (2-1 and 1-0), drawing with Mirassol 2-2 and winning the Campeonato Mineiro against Atlético-MG. This could be the turning point.

– I told all the journalists, criticism is legitimate, it’s legal. Now, what has been done in these two months in relation to Tite, to Cruzeiro, is surreal. Tite deserves it, Cruzeiro deserves it. Criticism is part of the game. Let’s make it clear that Cruzeiro is not managed by social media. Social media attacks and attacks, some influencers get involved. I brought the fans, we had the meeting. We have to respect people. Journalists have to criticize, but there has to be logic. They say things that aren’t true – commented Pedro Lourenço after the title.

But soon after, two setbacks sealed the end. The 2-0 loss to Flamengo deepened the crisis, but the coup de grâce came against Vasco. Cruzeiro once again created chances, took the lead, but only managed a 3-3 draw against Vasco at the Mineirão stadium. In the end, Pedro Junio ​​publicly announced the manager’s departure.

“Our campaign in the Brazilian Championship is not worthy of what the fans deserve. We are here to announce the departure of coach Tite. We thank him and his staff for their services. But the results, the performance, lead us to make this decision to change. Starting tomorrow, Wesley will take over the club. Bruno Spindel and I will be looking for a name to coach Cruzeiro for the remainder of the Brazilian Championship,” said the vice-president of football.