Tite has defended his Brazil players after they were criticised for their dance celebrations at the 2022 World Cup.
Last Monday, Brazil cruised to a 4-1 win over South Korea to set up a quarter-final clash against Croatia on Friday.
The Selecao’s stars celebrated each goal with some stylish dance routines, with the players even getting manager Tite involved after Richarlison had scored the third goal.
Fans have come to expect nothing less from Brazil, whose samba moves, both in terms of football and dance celebrations, are very famous and a common sight at World Cups.
But that didn’t stop Roy Keane and others from expressing their displeasure at the celebrations, with the former Manchester United captain telling ITV: ‘I’ve never seen so much dancing.
I can’t believe what I’m watching, it’s like watching Strictly [Come Dancing]. I don’t like this. People say it’s their culture. I think that’s really disrespecting the opposition.
‘It’s four goals, and they are doing it every time. I don’t mind so much the first jig, it’s the one after that, and the manager getting involved. I’m not happy about it. I don’t think it’s good at all.’
Brazil’s players, including Lucas Paqueta and Raphinha, have already responded to these comments by saying that will ‘keep dancing’ throughout the tournament.
Now Tite has had his say, suggesting that people who criticised his players were ignorant of Brazil’s culture, though he admitted that he would prefer not to join in with the dancing.
‘This is not my national team. It is the Brazilian national team for which I have responsibility as coach,’ the manager said in his pre-match press conference.
‘I am sorry for people who don’t know the history and culture of Brazil and our way of being. We will continue to do things in our manner.
‘I want my connection to be to the people who I relate to, who know how much I respect our history, they are the ones who I give my heart to.
‘There might be lots of kids who dance because that is what Brazilian culture is when a goal is scored. That’s not being disrespectful to anyone else – that’s what we do, that’s us.
‘I am 61 and these players could almost be my grandsons but I have a connection with them. If I have to dance I will dance, although I will do so subtly and I asked them to hide me. It is not my way.
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