Menezes' position in jeopardy after Brazil's Olympic loss

Rio de Janeiro, Aug 13 – Brazil’s football confederation (CBF) has refused to guarantee the future of under-pressure coach Mano Menezes.

Menezes, who is one of the few international coaches to be also in charge of his country’s under-23 team, has faced calls for his sacking after Brazil’s 1-2 loss to Mexico in Saturday’s Olympics final, Xinhua reports.

“The team is on the right track but that doesn’t mean Mano will stay,” CBF vice-president Marco Polo Del Nero told Terceiro Tempo Sunday.

“I’m not the one who will decide. It will be president Jose Maria Marin who has the final word. The position is open, which is how it should be at times like this.”

Among Menezes’ possible replacements are Santos manager Muricy Ramalho and Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Despite reports of his impending dismissal, Menezes said he was confident he would be given the chance to continue.

“The balance from the Olympics has still been positive despite the fact we didn’t win the final,” Menezes said.

“By turning our attention to the World Cup and putting our principal team on the pitch we can restart our preparation.”