Renato Paiva’s eyes lit up as he reflected on his journey to the Club World Cup. It all started on the sandy fields of Benfica’s youth academy. Now, he’s leading Botafogo into the tournament.
Paiva doesn’t like to talk about himself. He says it’s a team sport, and the players come first. But a message from Portugal got him emotional. It reminded him of his humble beginnings, from coaching kids to reaching the top level. He set a goal to make it this far, and now he’s living it.
People often ask about anxiety, but Paiva says it’s natural. This is the first Club World Cup with 32 teams, and everyone’s feeling the pressure. He thinks the key is to acknowledge it and move on. When the whistle blows, all that matters is the game.
For Paiva, the focus is on being true to themselves. They won’t change their approach, and the players know what to do. The new signings, like Arthur Cabral, need to fit in, but the core remains the same. Paiva wants to see his team play their game, not get distracted by the opponent.
In the short time they’ve had to prepare, Paiva’s been working on refining their style. They’ve had only five training sessions, but it’s been enough to remind them of their strengths. The new players are fitting in, and now it’s about executing their plan.
Paiva doesn’t dream about winning the title; he sets objectives and works towards them. His goal is to win the next game, and if they can do it with style, even better. Every team wants to win, and Paiva knows they can’t look too far ahead.
This Club World Cup is like nothing else. Paiva’s talked to colleagues from Europe, and everyone’s hungry for it. No one’s treating it like a preseason friendly – every team is all in. The ambition is palpable, and Paiva’s ready to take on the challenge.