Accused of cheating? (photo by Jan Solo)
Brazil national team coach Menezes has finally told the media that the exclusion of Marcelo from the Copa America is the direct result of Marcelo’s conduct with the Brazil National Football Team.
He has told the media that Marcelo’s poor discipline is the reason why he has left out. The exclusion of Marcelo was the biggest surprise in the Brazillian Squad for the Copa America. Marcelo had a fantastic 2010-2011 season with Real Madrid and really was one of the best, if not the best, left back in the world during last season. Inter’s Maicon, Barcelona’ Alves and Adriano and Galatasaray’s Andre Santos.
Menezes had not spoken to the media about the reason why Marcelo was left out but in an interview now, he has told the reason to be, Marcelo’s injury which Menezes think was a fake one. Marcelo had cited injury problems for not participating in a friendly between Brazil and Scotland some weeks ago and the coach did not like this fact. Menezes is believed be angry at Marcelo for preferring club football over national team football.
In an interview he said this:
“For me and every Brazilian, the most important thing in football is the national team. I want all my players to feel exactly that. We went through a period where we tolerated, unofficially, [athletes] refusing call-ups, sending their apologies. If I start to let things like that go at the start of my work, it is not going to finish well,” he told SporTV.
Questioned if the player’s absence had precipitated this decision, Mano replied “basically that, yes.”
The trainer added that the doors were not closed on the player, and that he could prove himself worthy of a call-up in the future.
“At some points, due to pressure from their clubs, players can give way on certain aspects. Maybe he was taken by the moment to let things go in that direction. So later you mature, you talk to others… and logically, you can later reconsider,” Menezes said
Just hours after this news, Real Madrid responded to Menezes comments of Marcelo’s “fake injury” stating that Marcelo missed Brazil vs Scotland friendly because of an injury and Real Madrid have evidence to show that.
Therefore Real Madrid have quashed any suggestions made by Brazilian coach Menezes that Marcelo might have faked his injury.
Real Madrid have said that the Brazillian federation attested to Marcelo’s injury and Marcelo actually went through medical tests after returning to Spain which proved that Marcelo was indeed injured and had to be sidelined for 2 weeks. Otherwise, why would Mourinho leave him out of the squad let alone the starting line up from the match against Sporting Gijon on April 2.
And as expected, Real Madrid also showed their disappointment at the comments made by the Brazil coach which questioned Marcelo’s commitment to Brazil National Football Team.
What the Brazil coach Menezes should realize is that, this is happening all the time with Elite clubs now a days. Messi has been given pardon a lot of times for Argentina. Same was the case with Ronaldinho and Ronaldo. So whats the big deal here, heck it was only a friendly, not like the end of the world.
I think Menezes is not wrong to punish Marcelo, I think he is outright dumb and stupid for doing so. The pressure that modern day club football puts on your body is immense and you need time to recuperate and if that means, missing a meaningless friendly then so be it.
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