Brazil coach Tite has admitted he has been surprised at how quickly he has been able to transform the team.
Since replacing Dunga in June, Tite has led the Selecao to six consecutive victories on the road to Russia 2018 – his first half-dozen matches in charge bringing Brazil’s best run in qualifying since the great side that went on to win the World Cup 1970.
READ MORE:
Brazil's WCQ campaign| Brazil's roller-coaster 2016 | PROFILE: Tite | Fernandinho and mum share redemption | The boy who met idol Neymar but fell for Tite | EXCLUSIVE: Brazil are back - Gil
And the Former Corinthians boss reveals the performances and the results have exceeded all expectations he had for his first six months in the job.
"I thought it would be more complicated, with less [positive] results," Tite told Reuters.
"I didn't imagine that we'd have these numbers and, even better than the numbers, such form. We have kept up a high standard of performance. That's significant."
Playing Surface/GoalTite arrived following two disastrous Copa America campaigns and struggling in World Cup qualifying as the Selecao still appeared to be reeling from their 7-1 World Cup semi-final defeat.
They now sit clear at the top of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table, however.
With six matches to go, the Selecao are just one victory away from a points-total that would have secured qualification for every World Cup since the current CONMEBOL qualifying format was introduced ahead of the 1998 tournament.
Pedro Vilela/Getty Images"An expression that sums it up well is turning the page," Tite said.
"We are building a new moment for the national team. It's a moment in which we are qualifying, consolidating the team, with a football that is efficient and pretty and that needs to be consolidated.
"We're well on our way to qualification, there's not far to go."