Bola Rolando: Operário ends B Série with renewed hope

The Operário Ferroviário ended its participation in the Serie B of 2026 with a 2-0 victory over the Ponte Preta, in Campinas. More than the result, the last presentation of the Phantom left an important impression: the team begins to find a new identity under the command of Alberto Valentim. And, in my opinion, this may be one of the best news for the Alvinegro fan thinking about next season.

Of course, there was a much higher expectation. The initial planning was to dispute access to the Série A of the Brazilian Championship, an objective that ended up being left on the way. But football requires an analysis that goes beyond the position on the table. We need to look at what worked, recognize the errors and, above all, identify what can represent a breakthrough.

And the Worker has reason to look at 2027 with optimism.

A season that deserves to be appreciated

Before any criticism, it is necessary to recognize the achievements of the Operário Ferroviário in 2026. The club won the consecutive Paranaense bi-championship, repeating the 2025 title, and ensured presence in the next edition of the Copa do Brasil.

At this year’s Copa do Brasil, Fantasma reached the fifth phase, expanding its participation in the competition and guaranteeing important revenues for the club’s planning.

In Serie B, despite the drop in income in the second round, the Worker ended his campaign with 57 points, close to the 58 won in 2024, one of the best participations of the club in the competition.

Of course, the fans expected more. The possibility of disputed access was present for much of the season, but a sequence of negative results compromised the goal.

Still, I do not consider it fair to classify the year as a failure. The Worker won a state title, advanced in the Copa do Brasil and finished the Serie B among the top ten.

There are points to correct, but there is also an important basis for building the future.

Alberto Valentim changed the way the Worker plays

If there is a name that deserves to be highlighted in this final straight, that name is Alberto Valentim.

I confess that, when his hiring was announced, he was not the coach I would choose to command the Worker. But football also requires the ability to recognize when an initial assessment does not correspond to what happens on the field.

And, until now, Alberto Valentim has convinced me.

The coach found a worn-out team, with many players in the medical department, accumulated negative results, and obvious difficulties in organizing.

Even so, it was able to bring about noticeable changes in a short time.

The main one was the position on the field. The Worker began to present a more vertical football, seeking the attack with greater objectivity, pressing the opponent and avoiding that excessive circulation of passes to the sides and back.

It is not just a tactical change. It is a mentality transformation.

The team once again demonstrated personality, intensity and willingness to take control of the matches.

The Courage to Bet on Base Players

Another important merit of Alberto Valentim was to make room for young people trained in the basic categories of the Worker.

The coach didn’t just stand in the boys’ appreciation speech. He put under-20 players on the field, gave real opportunities and demonstrated confidence in the potential of these athletes.

This decision deserves recognition.

We are talking about a generation that has been carrying out an expressive campaign in the Copa do Brasil U-20, facing traditional opponents and demonstrating competitive ability.

Young people needed opportunity. And Alberto Valentim had the courage to offer it.

It is this kind of attitude that strengthens a club. The formation of players cannot be restricted to the lower categories. It is necessary to build an effective link between the base and the professional cast.

The Worker has talents that can contribute directly to the future of the team and also represent patrimonial valuation for the club.

Discredited players have gained new life

Evolution was not restricted to young people.

Some athletes who were receiving few opportunities or performing below the expected performance also demonstrated growth with the arrival of the new coach.

Nicolas Schultz is an important example. The side gained space, presented defensive security, quality in support and better positioning. In the victory over the Ponte Preta, he again demonstrated his ability and even scored a goal.

André Dantas also deserves recognition for his performance in the last round. He showed quality, participated in the plays and presented a performance that reinforces the importance of the coach’s confidence.

Maxwell, in turn, entered with determination, speed and objectivity. He went up against the opponent, created opportunities and helped modify the team’s pace.

These actions cannot be treated as mere coincidence.

When several players present evolution at the same time, it is necessary to observe the work done by the technical committee.

And, in this respect, I consider that Alberto Valentim has been demonstrating competence.

The Worker of 2027 begins to take shape

The challenge now will be to turn this evolution into a consistent work.

The Worker will have ahead the Paranaense Championship, the Copa do Brasil and a new Serie B contest in 2027. These will be important competitions that will require planning, punctual reinforcements and a cast capable of withstanding the wear and tear of the entire season.

The management will also need to learn from the problems faced this year, especially regarding the depth of the cast and the impact of the injuries.

But there is an important difference compared to other moments: the Worker ends the season with clear signs of a game identity.

The team demonstrates greater aggressiveness, improved defensive positioning and ability to put pressure on opponents. In addition, it begins to take better advantage of the players trained within the club itself.

These are elements that, if well worked, can represent a leap of quality.

The future of the Ghost passes through continuity

Brazilian football is usually marked by haste. Coaches arrive, leave and often fail to develop their projects.

For this reason, I consider it important that the Worker be able to continue the work of Alberto Valentim.

It does not mean offering unrestricted trust or failing to collect results. It means recognizing that there is a proposal for a game and that it begins to produce positive responses.

The Ghost did not gain access to the Série A in 2026. This goal remains and must continue to be pursued.

But it also doesn’t end the year empty-handed.

The club won the state championship, carried out an important campaign in the Copa do Brasil, valued new talents and found, in this final straight, a coach who showed ability to reorganize the team.

The Worker ends 2026 without the access he wanted so much, but with concrete reasons to believe in a better 2027.

And, for me, Alberto Valentim is today one of the main reasons for this optimism.

Time will be responsible for confirming this assessment. But what I saw in the last few games was enough to change my mind about the coach.

And recognizing that is also part of football.

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