On Monday, March 24, 2025, Ricardo Sá Pinto, the former coach of Vasco da Gama, made headlines with his candid remarks during an interview on the Expresso 1923 channel. Reflecting on his tumultuous experience with the club in 2020, he publicly chastised some players, notably Martín Benítez, branding him a "vagabundo"—a colloquial term in Portugal that can imply a player failing to adhere to tactical discipline.
Sá Pinto’s stint at Vasco was short-lived, spanning only 15 games, during which the team secured a mere three victories, resulting in a dismal relegation to Brazil’s second division. "I wanted Cano [Germán Cano] free; he was our best player. We had Talles Magno, who sometimes ran and sometimes didn’t. Benítez had some quality, but he was a vagabundo. He roamed everywhere, didn’t respect his position, and was often injured," Sá Pinto explained, citing issues with player discipline and commitment.
The coach described Benítez, who played 33 games for Vasco, scoring three goals and providing three assists, as an anarchistic player who preferred freedom on the field over tactical responsibilities. "He would be everywhere but lacked the presence required in critical positions," Sá Pinto lamented.
Despite his criticism of Benítez, Sá Pinto acknowledged the player's talent but emphasized the frustrations stemming from Benítez's motion around the pitch, which often left tactical gaps.
In addition to discussing Benítez, Sá Pinto also directed his ire at former defender Leandro Castán, whom he casually referred to as "morto," meaning "dead" in Portuguese. Highlighting the physical decline of Castán, he said he had to adapt the team to a formation utilizing three defenders simply to accommodate Castán, who was no longer capable of performing at a high level.
"I made strategies to play with Léo Matos and Castán because in a four-man line he wouldn’t play; he was already dead," Sá Pinto remarked, detailing the challenges he faced in motivating players and securing their adherence to his tactical vision.
His comments laid bare underlying tensions within the team and the massive pressures of coaching during an economically strained period exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. "I didn’t receive any salary for four or five months. The financial problems were so severe that we couldn't afford to paint the practice field, and some kids were left without money to eat," he stated, shedding light on the dire situation at the club.
In a particularly vivid anecdote, Sá Pinto recounted a bizarre incident at the training center involving a stray dog that lost its paw to a crocodile, illustrating his point about the environment of neglect and challenges at the club. "There was a dog that came every morning. The next day, it was missing a paw after chasing a ball and encountering a crocodile. The facilities were in such disarray that even the simplest things were not managed," he recounted, painting a picture of a club in turmoil.
During his time at Vasco, Sá Pinto's philosophy of continuous improvement was stymied not just by a lack of resources but also by the pandemic, which made it impossible to maintain consistent training or line-up continuity. The inability to field the same team in consecutive matches made strategy implementation nearly impossible.
"I faced many challenges, and it was difficult to have consistency in performances because of the ever-changing circumstances. To compete effectively, continuity was essential, but the pandemic made this an uphill battle," Sá Pinto asserted, explaining how it hindered his strategic approach.
Despite his struggles, Sá Pinto remains reflective about his time at Vasco. He compared his trials to those faced by his successor, Vanderlei Luxemburgo, suggesting that even well-established coaches couldn't navigate the club’s issues effectively, stating, "Miracles, I don’t do. Even Vanderlei, a respected figure, couldn’t do better than I did under the circumstances." His defense serves as an acknowledgment of the compounded difficulties that afflicted his tenure.
As he continues his coaching career, now directing Raja Casablanca, Sá Pinto’s reflections serve as a cautionary tale about the complexities of managing a football club amidst adverse conditions. His comments about Benítez and the team dynamics under his management reveal much about the current state of coaching in elite sports, where player commitment and institutional resources are critical considerations for success.
