He's playing for Inter in the Serie A this season. With the Seleção das Quinas, he has scored important goals. For instance, in the World Cup 2006, remember the goal against Mexico?
When an experienced player like him is not called up for a big tournament like the UEFA EURO 2008, does he publicly complain that he wasn't called, or stay quiet?
As I was checking the sports clips there was a TV interview Maniche gave in Milan, to RTP (local media) on Saturday, May 17, 2008. The headline was that he was disappointed. Ok, that's to be expected. It's normal.
What made this news was that he implied things about Scolari that don't seem fair to some. To see him and hear him speak in Portuguese in the TV interview click on the picture or "Maniche ficou decepcionado por nao ter sido seleccionado para o Europeu."
Among the things he said was that:
- he does not accept the reasons that Scolari gave him.
"Was sad, and above all, disappointed of the facts that were given to me to explain my absence in the final 23 man squad. If it was for physical reasons, obviously, that's not an an excuse. I feel pretty good. I didn't have an injury this year, and even played 37 games this season."
- Suspects it's beyond soccer-related
"I always said that, if he has something against me, come tell me directly. I see it's precisely a personal thing. The manager probably feels he's being influenced by other people that don't like me. People who are close to the manager. I don't want to say with this that the manager can be influenced, but what's clear is that I'm thinking that due to these facts, visible to everyone. If it's not a soccer reason, it has to be something outside of soccer. He used the word "extra-futebol."
- Being left out of the final 23 man squad "grande injustiça"
"I'm not saying that my being left out was an injustice. I'm going to say that it was a big injustice, because it wasn't expected and there was no reason for it."
He said much more. This is enough. Like Pires, Anelka left out of the World Cup 2006. Even the great Del Piero left out of friendlies by Donadoni.
So,
- ---- Would it have been better for him to not say much about it in public?