Commentator sees Botafogo’s Rio Cup moment as ‘better than last year’ and praises Fabio Matias: ‘He received a brick, returned a round ball’

O Botafogo is two-time champion of Rio Cup. Despite the tournament only guaranteeing fifth place in the Carioca Championship and place in the following year’s Copa do Brasil, the fans’ reception was different in 2023 and 2024. If last year there were protests, in the current season the fans understood the competition as preparation.

– The Botafogo institution would not like to be there, due to circumstances, but I have the impression that the moment is better than last year. All the bad things are sort of behind us, because there’s the first game of the Libertadores group stage on Wednesday, it’s the farewell to Fabio Matias, hands the team over to Artur Jorge, Botafogo no longer has an interim. It’s not clear what the composition will be, what Fabio’s role will be, but he made it clear that he has a good relationship with Textor. He received a brick and returned a round ball. But he regained the players’ trust. The feeling it gives me is that it was a more thoughtful decision, Textor talked to Artur Jorge, it wasn’t the way Bruno Lage and Tiago Nunes arrived – he stressed Martin Fernándezon “Troca de Passes”, on SporTV.

The commentator Richarlyson He highlighted that it was Botafogo’s obligation to win the Taça Rio.

– I was already worried about the debut in the Libertadores. Of course, when it comes to raising the cup, Gatito doesn’t even lift it properly. It’s satisfying because it’s an obligation, but the fans are tired of lifting that trophy, they really want to lift the trophy. But it’s important to note, some returning players, Tche Tche acted well. The most exciting thing was Patrick dePaula crying, because a movie was on. Which player doesn’t want to act and do what he likes? But it was Botafogo’s obligation – said Richarlyson.