Arturo Vidal has strongly criticized his former manager, Jorge Sampaoli, labeling him a “loser coach” due to the treatment he received at Flamengo.
The ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich midfielder expressed his frustration with the Argentine coach for not granting him sufficient playing time at Flamengo following his debut for Athletico Paranaense.
Vidal, who made a substitute appearance in his new club’s 2-0 victory over Bahia, expressed his joy at finally being able to play and condemned Sampaoli for his failure to “appreciate” his players.
“I am very happy to be playing. I was always ready to play, it was just that I got stuck with a loser coach who did not know how to appreciate his players,” he said.
Although it was a trophy-laden stint with Flamengo for Vidal, where he won the Copa Libertadores and Brazilian Cup, his contract was terminated at the start of the year.
During his stay in Rio de Janeiro, he played just 21 matches, recording two goals and four assists.
However, he is now looking ahead to the future and aims to secure a starting position so that he can prove himself as a winner once again.
“All that is in the past now, I am happy now and I hope to be a starter in the upcoming matches and show everything that I have done over the course of my career, which is to be a winner,” he stated.
Vidal will be back in action against Vasco da Gama on Sunday in the Brazilian Serie A.