We needed 3 touches to pass- Tite criticises pitch in win over Paraguay
The Selecao advanced to the semi-finals after beating Paraguay on penalties.
Brazil narrowly got past Paraguay on a penalty shoot-out in the first quarterfinal of the Copa America. The game ended 0-0 by the 90 minutes and then in the shootout, Brazil's star goalkeeper Alisson Becker produced a masterclass. But in the crucial win, head coach Tite was not impressed by the condition of the Gremio Arena pitch and was witnessed fuming after the game.
Paraguay went a man down at the 58th minute and yet held the hosts to a draw. However, Tite blamed the pitch for the lack of flowing football from his struggling side.
Match Highlights: Brazil 0(4)-(3)0 Paraguay
“There is room for improvement but that’s also possible when you play passes on good ground," Tite said.
He added, “All the players asked me to complain about it. It’s absurd at such a high-level match to have a ground that is so hard to pass the ball on."
“We needed three touches to pass the ball forward. It’s absurd to have such bad quality. It’s inconceivable anywhere in the world to have such bad ground,” he said.
During this very tournament itself, the pitch has come under harsh criticism from Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez when Argentina and Uruguay played their group games at Porto Alegre.
Although it will also host the second semi-final as well but Tite should not be worried as they will face the winner of Venezuela-Argentina game in the first semi-final.
“Scouts honor, I shouldn’t make excuses:,if we don’t finish chances then we don’t. But I’m telling you that we had to take three touches to pass the ball and you need to think fast,” said Tite who saw the Brazil fans jeering for the team at the half-time over unattractive football. The crowd booing has become a common activity for Brazil, having been suffered that in three of the four games they have played so far.
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Talking alongside Tite in the news conference, Barcelona midfielder Arthur said, “This qualification gives us the confidence we need. There will be tough games ahead, sometimes the ball won’t go in, but we’re centered, our heads are in the right place."
“Now we need to relax and concentrate on the next opponents.”
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