A NOT SO GREAT CAMPAIGN 

The Story of how a nearly perfect reality became a devastating nightmare.

2015 ROSTER – SPORT CLUB CORINTHIANS PAULISTA

PRE-SEASON

Sport Club Corinthians Paulista began their 2015 season with four Championships to compete. While the club's main objectives for the season were to win the International Copa Bridgestone Libertadores of America and the Brasileirão, the São Paulo State Championship would serve as great practice for the player's conditioning and team chemistry. 

This year's São Paulo State Championship Serie A, commonly known as "Campeonato Paulista", was the 124th edition of the tournament. With 20 teams competing to be crowned the state's champions, Corinthians Paulista, the most successful club in the championship's history attempted to win their 28th title. Though winning the State Championship was not Corinthians’ head coach and board’s main objective, this year’s edition had a special flavor for the supporters of the club. The “bando de loucos” (crazies) and “fiel torcida” (faithful fans) would have their favorite club play in their newly built stadium, the Arena Corinthians. The year 2015 marks Arena Corinthians' first championship since the last year when it was the opening stadium for the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil.

For the 2015 season, Corinthians president Roberto de Andrade dispensed head coach Mano Menezes and hired a new coach: Tite. Tite spent the past year studying soccer across the world and learning new tactics from famous professionals all over Europe and South America. In addition to a new head coach, president Roberto de Andrade and his board brought to Corinthians a handful of new players: Cristian, a defensive midfielder who was playing in Turkey’s Fenerbahçe, Edilson, a right back who spent the past two years in Rio de Janeiro’s Botafogo, Edu Dracena, former captain for Santos FC, Stiven Mendoza, a Colombian left wing who was playing in Chennaiyin, India, and finally former Brazil national team forward Vágner Love. With this new squad, Corinthians were considered one the strongest club's of Brazil and favorites to winning many titles.

On the first game of the State Championship, the home team Corinthians received Marilia, a smaller club from the state of São Paulo. This game was crucial to both the fans and the club because it would be the last game Corinthians would play before debuting in the International Copa Libertadores - their main season objective. Beyond 25,896 supporters, Corinthians defeated Marilia with ease. Despite the 3-0 lead, Corinthians dominated the game and the new formation adapted by Tite (4-1-4-1) allowed Corinthians to create multiple shots at goal. With the goals of midfielder Renato Augusto, striker Guerrero, and right back Fagner, Tite felt confident before playing against Colombian team Once Caldas for the Copa Libertadores the following Wednesday. Jadson, Corinthians' number 10 and creative midfielder stated after the match: "Our team is ready. We had a great pre-season and Tite knows what he is doing."

Due to the fact that Corinthians' starters were focused on Copa Libertadores, Corinthians arrived at Palmeiras' new stadium, Allianz Parque to play with majority of the squad as second string players. This was the first time that both teams would face each other in SE Palmeiras' new home.

While Palmeiras took initiative with the support of 28,869 fans, Corinthians kept their composure and played head to head using their subs. However, early in the second half, Corinthians’ goalkeeper Cassio was sent off the field for delaying the game in trying to cool down Palmeiras' pressure. Corinthians played with a man down as they dealt with the attacking pressure from Palmeiras coming from both left and right. Despite the pressure from the opposing team, Corinthians’ midfielder Danilo still managed to score the game-winning goal against one of their biggest rivals at their stadium, using his unpredictable movements to take advantage of Palmeiras defender Vitor Hugo’s mistake.

Once again, the king of derbies shine! Danilo at the 11th minute scored his 11th goal against Corinthians' major rivals. On March 8th, 2015, Corinthians at the stadium of Morumbi defeated São Paulo and continues an 8 year streak without losing at the rival's home.

Earlier this season, Corinthians had faced their rival Palmeiras playing a man down at their rival's home, and once again Corinthians would be playing a man down beyond a strong opponent. While Corinthians dominated the first half of the match, and opened the score with Danilo's excellent positioning, the club was far from being comfortable inside the Morumbi Stadium. While a little bit over 18,000 supporters chanted and hoped for São Paulo to win their fiercest rival in history, Tite positioned Corinthians to play compacted in defense and not allow the São Paulo players to have any open space when attacking.

During the second half, Muricy Ramalho's team played more offensively. After many attempts, Michel Bastos shot from outside the box and the ball touched GIl's arm. The official saw the touch and pointed towards the penalty box causing the Corinthians' players to be furious with the decision. After communicating with the sideline officials, there was a penalty indeed for São Paulo, while Gil was sent off given the second yellow card. Rogerio Ceni, São Paulo biggest idol, went to take the penalty shot, however six foot five Cassio blocked with his legs impeding São Paulo to tie the game.

With this result, Corinthians continued to be undefeated in the season. Game after game, Corinthians have shown to play better and better with Tite asking all of his players to attack and defend together. Cassio at the end of the match commented, "Rogerio is a great professional and player, I knew I had to pick a side and was lucky enough to block the penalty with my legs. We are doing what the professor is asking us to do, play as a team". Corinthians should be back next weekend with their subs to play against Sao Bernardo at Arena Corinthians since the first team would be playing at the Copa Libertadores.

After playing with their reserves on the last round, Tite decides to use the starting eleven against Penapolense. Three days before their big match in the Copa Libertadores against Danubio-URU, and Corinthians provides a show to their 27,175 supporters at the Arena Corinthians. 

First place in their group, Corinthians massacres in the first half. Tite uses the starting eleven to play weak Penapolense on March 26, 2015. To everyone's surprise, Corinthians starting 11 had no trouble finding the back of the net to goalkeeper Samuel Pires soon after the start of the game. Within minutes of the first half, Corinthians were already leading the score line by 1-0 with Guerrero's (9') perfect finish and Yago's (11') header. Fifteen minutes later Emerson scored 3-0 and Petros, 4 minutes after that, increased the difference to 4-0. At minute 52' of the second half, once again, Corinthians number 9 scored the fifth goal.

Leading the game by give goals and with numerous attempts on target, Tite replaced Petros, Emerson, and Guerrero for Bruno Henrique, Malcom, and Vagner Love, causing Corinthians' team cohesion to decrease and their chances to score goals. As the team decreased their momentum, Penapolense did not. In ten minutes towards the end of the game, Penapolense found the back of Cassio's net three times, irritating the goalkeeper with his defenders. Crislan scored two times on minutes 74' and 77', and Luis Gustavo ended the score line with Penapolense's third goal at minute 89th. With two more rounds to go, Corinthians are already qualified for quarter finals in the State Championship.

For the past weeks, Corinthians have been in everyone's mouth. Tite has found a winning team and Corinthians have been undefeated throughout the whole season in both the São Paulo State Championship and Copa Libertadores. The club's success however triggers an eager for the rival teams to defeat the undefeated. 

Against Santos, once again Corinthians took the lead with a precise header by defender Felipe, but during second half, Santos' behavior in the pitch had changed. Santos' players came back after half time with fire in their eyes, and after many attempts had found their way to the back of Cassio's net. Ricardo Oliveira after a perfect lob completed the touch and tied the game, gaining control of the match after the game. 

With this result, Corinthians were guaranteed the first place on the São Paulo Championship bracket, giving them home field advantage throughout the competition. Both Corinthians (1st) and Santos (2nd) remain to be the only clubs undefeated in the competition before playoffs.

 

PLAYOFFS

Corinthians played at home, where they stood behind a 29 game undefeated streak. Though Corinthians did not show the football that delighted Brazil in the past weeks, their players did just enough to help the club go through to the next round. In the morning of the game, a horrible news for the Tite: Guerrero (Corinthians top goal scorer and starting forward) woke up to a fever and suspected dengue. Vagner Love replaced Guerrero, however he did not have much luck against Ponte Preta. Ponte Preta came to Arena Corinthians with the hopes of a tie, which would take the game to penalties, since their coach was aware that Corinthians had been unstoppable all season. 

Ponte Preta was superior to Corinthians in the first half and could even open the scoring before the break in Arena Corinthians if not for the officials. In a legal position, Renato Caja scored of a rebound after Juninho's attempt on target, but the impediment was erroneously called. The referee Flavio Rodrigues de Souza annulled a legitimate goal, which caused controversy not only on the pitch but also in social networks, where fans complained about the error.

The game was everything a fan could expect in a soccer match. Palmeiras were the first ones to find the back of the net with Victor Ramos scoring at the 13th minute after a corner kick given to Palmeiras. However, the home team soon enough changed the rhythm of the game, with header of Danilo on the 33rd minute and Mendoza's out of the box shot at minute 44', Corinthians had the lead going into the second half. While both teams attacked, Corinthians dominated Palmeiras and had numerous chances to score. 

With the game 2-1 by the start of the second half, Corinthians once again held possession of the ball and attempted to increase the lead. Palmeiras however remained calm and looked for the overlap and counter attack options, since their coach were well aware that if Palmeiras attacked and left their defense open, Corinthians could easily score once again. On the 74th minute, their thoughts went to practice, and on a fast counter attack, Palmeiras' left back found Rafael Marques inside the box to complete the goal and hence cause the start of a nightmare, penalties!

OVERVIEW

The number one team in the State Championship would now say goodbye to their chances of the 28th title. Corinthians held five out of the top ten biggest attendance games in the Championship, while having the second best attack in the league and also best defense. Gil and Fagner were awarded to the top 11 players of the tournament. The 2015 São Paulo State Championship final was then won by Santos FC after a penalty shootout with SE Palmeiras.

Corinthians had an impeccable championship, with 12 victories and 5 draws. The team was the only club that remained undefeated throughout the year in Brazil, and to the surprise of everyone, the club was not present at the State Championship final. Corinthians played the "Campeonato Paulista" with a rotational squad since their main objective was to succeed in the Copa Libertadores, and despite playing with their subs, Corinthians had not yet lost. Tite in 2015 have created a winning squad that surpassed everyone's expectations. The club won important games playing with one less player than the other team, kept a winning streak when given four games in a span of seven days to play, and balanced both the Copa Libertadores and São Paulo State Championship.

written by felipe alves.
uc davis, 2015.