The Selecao boss says he was disappointed with his team’s showing despite their 2-0 victory over their hosts in Riyadh
Brazil coach Tite concedes his side were not at their best during their 2-0 Brasil Global Tour victory over Saudi Arabia on Friday.
Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Alex Sandro either side of half-time saw the Selecao triumph in Riyadh, as Tite bagged his 23rd win in 29 games as coach.
But he admitted he’d hoped to see more from his side.
“Right from the start, we did not perform as we had imagined,” he said.
“The performance was below-par for this team. We play more, produce more, compete, show a higher level of concentration than that. Most was below [our usual level].”
Brazil are currently experimenting with a number of new players as they work towards next year’s Copa America and Tite went on to admit that there did appear to be a lack of cohesion in the side.
“We were also hampered because when you change the basic structure of the team and start putting in new players, they do not have that understanding, the movement, the organised triangulation of different parts of the team, but the match was worthwhile to be able to make those observations.”
Tite added that his team struggled to find the usual competitive spirit they have become so accustomed to showing, even in friendly matches.
“The level of competitiveness was low,” he said. “We are playing in a country that received us extremely well and with a local population that showed us great affection. This brought with it a certain atmosphere – which is no excuse! – of it being more of a friendly game.”