Corinthians and the Memphis Depay Controversy: Situation Analysis

The Corinthians fan base and the Corinthians media were thrown into turmoil after the decision not to renew Memphis Depay’s contract. And, let’s be honest: the board should have spoken with the player and settled the debt before the World Cup. It was a huge management mistake that, to make matters worse, could be surpassed by an even bigger one: renewing with a player who, let’s be clear, is no longer at his peak.

What Did Memphis Do Since the Renewal?

Since his contract was renewed, what has Memphis done? Yes, he took a free kick that helped Corinthians advance in the Libertadores, but then he missed a crucial penalty that could have kept the team alive in the competition. Not to mention that he couldn’t stand out in any match and, this Wednesday, at Beira Rio, he squandered two clear goal-scoring opportunities inside the small area. What do the people who were calling for the player’s renewal think now? Will they come to apologize, or will they just criticize the coach?

The Situation of Fernando Diniz

I’ve commented before about the difficulty Fernando Diniz has in turning around adverse situations when his teams are on a losing streak. Everyone goes through bad phases, but it seems Diniz’s last for an eternity—until the moment they fire him. And look, Corinthians is at rock bottom, hovering near the relegation zone. But how can you blame the coach after a game like this?

Corinthians started the match by conceding a goal in the very first minute, but then completely dominated the game. There were three shots off the woodwork, fantastic saves from goalkeeper Anthony, and the goals that Memphis missed. Then, to make everything worse, Rodrigo Garro lost the ball in the box (is it the coach’s fault for that?) which led to the second goal for Inter. André scored one for us, but what would have been more fair would have been a draw. The incompetence of Corinthians’ stars was decisive in the loss, while Inter seemed to be reborn.

Whose Fault Is It?

Of course Diniz shares some blame, but the greater weight falls on Memphis. And we can’t forget who helped push the club into this mess: the directors over the years and the fanatics who almost forced the signing of a meaningless contract in August.

The situation is tense, and many questions remain unanswered. Corinthians’ future depends on wiser decisions and, hopefully, on a good conversation with the players. Have we learned our lesson?