Tite returned to Corinthians back in January and was expected to revive at the club’s fortunes especially in the Copa Libertadores.

This, however, has not happened this season after the club suffered an early elimination from the competition that they won only a couple of years ago. A 1-0 loss against Paraguayan club Guaraní sees them exit the competition at the last 16 stage. Corinthians came into the match this week needing a convincing victory in order to reach the next stage. This was after a 2-0 win for Guaraní in the first leg. Yet, Corinthians were unable to make any impact as they surrendered meekly in a 1-0 loss.

The 3-0 exit on aggregate is a huge disappointment for Tite, who has accepted that he will be facing a lot of criticism of others for this exit. However, he plans to carry on working with the same kind of dedication in the hope that the season would have a better conclusion. Corinthians have made a good start to the Brazilian Serie A table. They have won the opening two matches – albeit by a 1-0 margin – to lead the table with six points from the two matches. The recent events over Cruzeiro helps take some pressure off the manager.

“We have to be very careful, but we do things on the emotional. Football is not so, he has another component, structuring. I’m not talking only me, or defense of a job. The construction team has errors, hits … What makes me more upset is that we wanted to give the fans the satisfaction, the joy. But you have to know how to take the blows, groan and bear the criticism. I go to the field to do my best. I always want to be with my light pillow. I do not underestimate opponents, he had not ostentatious,” said Tite.