RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- New Botafogo manager Tite said Thursday his immediate priority is survival as a tightly contested league leaves mid-table teams at risk of relegation.
Botafogo is currently 11th in Brazil's 20-team top flight standings, seven points clear of the drop zone with 11 matchdays remaining.
"Being at this club allows you to have ambition, to set goals," the former Brazil head coach said in his first press conference as Botafogo manager on Thursday.
"But there's also this reality where every team that hasn't secured enough points to escape the danger zone is still in that dogfight, in that struggle."
Tite replaces Rodrigo Bellao, who had filled the role on an interim basis after Franclim Carvalho was sacked on August 18.
His first match in charge will be Saturday's away clash against Mirassol, which sits 15th in the standings, six points behind Botafogo.
"In my opinion, the Brazilian championship has flattened out," the 65-year-old said. "Everyone's level is very similar, very close. The teams at the top stand out a bit more, but those lower down have grown significantly, to the point where you see teams at the bottom winning extremely important games against top teams."
Tite, who had been out of work since leaving Cruzeiro in March, agreed to a deal that ties him to Botafogo until December 2028.
He said the offer of a long-term deal had been crucial in his decision to accept the job.
"The chance to develop a squad over the mid to long term is what I think is required to achieve success in football," he added. ■
