The Globe
Coach says recovery won't be enough for Roger to play well
For Ronaldo Torres, the Flamengo star needs to show he wants to shine
Unfathomable mysteries surround Joel Santana at Flamengo. While he tries to figure out why the team isn't playing well away from home, other enigmas seem to haunt the coach. Chief among them is the unusual behavior of some players. Signed as stars capable of solving the team's offensive shortcomings, Maxi and Roger have been out of the lineup for some time. The Argentine hasn't played since August 26th, in the match against Goiás, and returns to the team on Sunday against Juventude in Caxias do Sul, confessing that he didn't return earlier because he rushed the game and aggravated his muscle injury.
"I really wanted to play right away, I wanted to rush my return, and I wasn't happy. Now I'm fine," said Maxi.
Roger's situation is the opposite. Sidelined after the loss to Inter, accused of a lack of commitment, there's apparently no rush to bring him back into the squad.
- Roger is in the hands of the trainers, physiologists and doctors - Joel Santana explained the problem.
Thrown into the squad against Corinthians, presumably prematurely, Roger has missed six of the club's last 14 games and is only expected to be fit to play against Atlético-MG next Saturday. According to fitness coach Ronaldo Torres, he is undergoing rigorous muscle strengthening exercises. Yesterday, after exercising on a machine that measures athletes' muscle strength without putting them at risk, Roger limped significantly while walking around Gávea.
"The muscle injuries at Flamengo have been surprising, but that was expected. There's no recovery time, and when a player takes the field, we just pray it won't be another case. Everyone needs work to improve their muscle strength, but we're working on specifics. Instead of volume, we're focusing on quality. There are a lot of games," said Ronaldo.
Like Maxi and Renato Augusto, who also have muscle injuries, Roger isn't expected to perform at a high level upon his return, due to the length of his reconditioning and his style. However, it's clear that Ronaldo Torres'—and, by extension, Joel Santana's—biggest concern isn't just his physical appearance:
"He won't be a lion when he returns. But he'll have the minimum fitness level to sustain himself in a game. He'll have savings. It remains to be seen whether he'll want to spend it...
Sports Journal
Roger's return to Fla is near
Midfielder expected to return against Atlético-MG in two rounds
Roger trains hard to get in shape
Away from the team since September 8th, Roger's return may be imminent, much to the delight of Flamengo fans. According to Flamengo's fitness coach, Ronaldo Torres, the midfielder's performance in recent training sessions has been very satisfactory. The coach stated that a normal athlete's speed is approximately 13 km/h, but the Flamengo player is reaching speeds of 18 km/h.
"He ran the races at 170 beats per minute, which dropped to 140 shortly after. He's doing great. Next week, I'll hand Roger over to Joel, and he'll be ready to go," the coach said.
According to Ronaldo Torres, Roger's departure from Flamengo's starting lineup was related to the player's poor physical fitness, which the club demanded too much of this season.
"We created a program, and during that program, we realized that Roger's muscle was lacking strength. He was out for a long time, and we're working to ensure he can play the full 90 minutes of every match. He was out for a long time," he explained.
Despite his improvements, it's unlikely Roger will be part of the team that faces Juventude this Sunday in Caxias do Sul. It appears the midfielder will return to the team for the match against Atlético-MG in the next round at Maracanã.
How much Fla misses a darling!
With Obina suspended, Maxi takes on a special place in the hearts of the red-blacks
Thiago Bokel
Jair Motta
Maxi Biancucci has shown great identification with Flamengo since his arrival at the club and has already won over the red-black fans
Even with only a short time at Gávea, Maxi Biancucci's connection with Flamengo fans is already strong. So much so that the fan favorite position, vacant since Obina's 120-day suspension imposed by the Superior Court of Justice (STJD), appears to have a new owner. And after nearly a month away from the team due to a left thigh injury, the Argentine will be back on Sunday against Juventude in Caxias do Sul.
With the lack of attackers in the group, due to injuries and suspensions, Maxi's return could not have come at a better time for coach Joel Santana, who selected him in attack alongside Souza.
"Some situations ended up catching us by surprise. I lost a lot of attackers due to various issues and I'm only now starting to define the attack that I consider ideal. Maxi isn't 100% yet, but he'll be fit to play and will be a great addition to our attack," explained the coach.
No rush\ Despite Joel's expectation of having Maxi, fitness coach Ronaldo Torres ruled out the player being able to play the entire game. The striker tried to rush his return two weeks ago and ended up aggravating the injury. Therefore, this time, he intends to wait as long as necessary to play the full 90 minutes.\
"I'm no longer feeling the pain that was bothering me, but now I need to be calm, because last time I tried to come back early and ended up staying out longer. I've learned my lesson and I know that, despite being fully recovered, my physical fitness is still not ideal," confessed Maxi.
Good memories
This Sunday's opponent couldn't have been better for the foreigner. Juventude was one of his victims in this Brazilian Championship. On August 23rd, at the Maracanã, Maxi scored a goal in a 4-0 victory over the team from Caxias do Sul. However, upon his return, Maxi shouldn't have an easy time.
"Their pitch is small, which favors aerial play, which isn't my strong point. I'll have to fight hard to keep the ball at my feet and, most importantly, help Flamengo win. I don't really know the style of the teams from the South yet, but they say it's the most similar to Argentina's," said the striker.
Maxi and Souza's return comes at a crucial time. After Paulo Sérgio's broken collarbone, Renato Augusto's thigh strain, and Obina's 120-day suspension, coach Joel Santana was racking his brains to find the best lineup. Up front, the issue has already been resolved.
This will be Maxi's third strike partnership with Souza. The previous two victories were a 4-0 victory over Juventude and a 3-1 victory over Goiás, both at Maracanã.
Joel: 'Against us, Kerlon didn't make fun'
Even when he tries to avoid controversy, coach Joel Santana ends up embroiled in one. Yesterday, when asked after practice if he agreed with the "seal dribble" created by Cruzeiro supporter Kerlon, the coach said he wouldn't talk about it. However, he couldn't help himself and finally spoke out.
"Three days before, he was here in Rio, and with Cruzeiro losing, he didn't make any jokes. I don't agree that it's an art, because it incites the fans and raises the players' spirits. No player likes to see a play like that when they're behind. If I said otherwise, I'd be lying. Coelho also made a mistake, but Kerlon could have avoided that situation," he said.
Joel, with the characteristic spirit of a former defender who didn't like jokes.
The coach has not yet confirmed the starting lineup to face Juventude, but the tendency is for the team to be formed by: Bruno, Leonardo Moura, Fábio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Rômulo, Jaílton, Cristian and Toró; Maxi and Souza.
A training session is scheduled for this morning in Gávea, where Joel is expected to start with this lineup. Barring an injury, the only changes to the team that has been playing normally will be in attack, which will see the return of the duo considered to be starters.
The red-black delegation travels to Porto Alegre in the afternoon and then continues by bus to Caxias do Sul.
Be very careful to avoid injuries at Fla
After gaining a week to train, a feat not seen since the week before the match against Santos, coach Joel Santana is optimistic about the group's preparation. After giving the players Monday off, Tuesday was reserved solely for physical training, at the beach in the morning and in the pool in the afternoon. Despite ball training over the past two days, Joel has yet to lead a training session with the team that is expected to take the field against Juventude. However, for him, this is not a problem.
"I was scheduled to do a training session today (yesterday), but Ronaldo Torres (fitness coach) asked me to slow down the players' pace a bit. It's not good to break them now and then see them feeling it when the game comes. At Flamengo, the intensity of a simple training match is so intense that it's as exhausting as if it were an official match," explained Joel Santana.
One of the biggest players this week was fitness coach Ronaldo Torres. He demanded a lot from the players in an attempt to recondition them. This measure was taken because some of them, like Fábio Luciano, Ibson, and Roger, had to debut before they were physically fit.
"There were games where it was better to hold players back as a precaution. I'm not saying they were poorly started, but a little prematurely. That moment required sacrifice; it was a war. We knew the risk of injuries, but we had to prepare early. This week was important to strengthen the athletes' muscles," said the physical trainer.
Fla fights against cold, fatigue and negative history, in the South
Flamengo's run in the Brazilian league is still quite difficult, and based on this weekend's results, the Red-Blacks could even end up back in the relegation zone. The Gávea team's next opponent is Juventude, who haven't lost to any Rio de Janeiro team in this season's league. And it won't be an easy matchup, according to coach Joel Santana.
"We can't make mistakes. The games in the South are tougher, and the teams that play there struggle, but we have to adapt to this kind of football. They know how to play there, but Flamengo has to fulfill its mission," warned Joel in an interview with Rádio Globo.
Off-field factors also make the game more difficult. Joel believes the temperature and travel fatigue are detrimental to Flamengo. Furthermore, the team has a dismal away record in this Brazilian Championship, with only one win away from home.
"It's difficult to play in temperatures we don't like, and the trip is long. But we have to play the same way we play against the teams in Rio. This hasn't been happening because of our own mistakes, most of the time," the coach assessed.
Maxi and Souza return to attack against Juventude, at 16 pm this Sunday, at Alfredo Jaconi.
Obina's trial will take place on October 4th
Attorney Michel Assef Filho filed an appeal this Thursday seeking to reduce the sentence of striker Obina, who was suspended by the Superior Court of Justice (STJD) for 120 days. The new trial will not take place until October 4th.
Obina, who attacked defender Índio in the 3-0 defeat to Internacional, will be out of at least Flamengo's next three games in the Brasileirão.
Joel says Fla has to learn to play away from home
In this Brazilian Championship, Flamengo has only one away win. And that was a long time ago. In the second round, against Goiás. On that occasion, the red-and-black team put on one of the best performances, defeating the emerald team 3-1. This solitary away win worries Joel Santana.
"It's very little. Flamengo has to learn to play away from home. The Brazilian Championship is a competition that requires the team to know how to play both at home and away. Earning points away from home has always been important," Joel told Rádio Tupi.
When asked how Flamengo must behave in order to win away from home, Joel was blunt in his response.
"When we play away, we must maintain balance. We must have the same spirit, the same grit, the same desire. In this championship, we've let results slip by that were often due to our own mistakes rather than the merits of our opponents. Two examples are the games against Palmeiras and Inter. Now we have six-point matches ahead, like Juventude, Náutico, and Paraná," analyzed the red-and-black manager.
In a game that promises to be very exciting, Flamengo and Piedade face each other in Duque de Caxias
Lidia azevedo and Rafael Oliveira
Ursula Nery
Magrão (with the ball) and Octavio are the weapons to beat the opponent without mercy
With just two points separating the two teams in the championship, Flamengo and Piedade face off today at 20 p.m. in a decisive match. A victory for Piedade will open up a two-point lead over Flamengo. A victory for the Gávea team will move them back into third place in Group B of the State Championship. The match will be held at the Duque de Caxias Sports Center.
Piedade is buoyed by its recent strong results in the tournament. The victories over Drogaria do Povo and América left the team with six points, two more than Flamengo (fourth place) and one less than second-place Macaé.
One of those responsible for the suburban team's good campaign, striker Franklin is confident of another good performance.
"When you have a good run like ours, you end up gaining confidence. And it's confidence that a player needs. I think Piedade has everything it needs to come away with a victory," said the player, who has fond memories of matches against Flamengo.
"Every time I played against them, I got lucky. I remember one time, playing for Vasco's youth team, I scored five goals at Gávea."
But Piedade won't have it easy. The Duque de Caxias gymnasium is one of the largest in the state. While the Gávea team has been training on this court for ten days, the suburban team has yet to play a single match in this State Championship in a large gymnasium. This could be Flamengo's greatest asset.
"We're trying to adapt our game to large courts. That's what we'll encounter when we reach a potential semifinal against teams like Petrópolis, Cabo Frio, Macaé, and Vasco. With that in mind, we'll start adapting now," explained coach Cid Escarlate.
O Dia
Fla: Four months of fasting
The team, which only had one victory away from home, on May 20, faces Juventude in the South
Marluci Martins
Rio - The verb "to win" was conjugated only eight times by Flamengo in the Brazilian Championship. And away from home, the disaster was even greater: only one victory. This increases coach Joel Santana's apprehension for Sunday's game in Caxias do Sul, even though the opponent is the weak Juventude.
Masseur Deni celebrated his birthday yesterday, but the party in Gávea could have had another reason: exactly four months earlier, Flamengo achieved its only Championship victory away from Maracanã. The illusory 3-1 victory over Goiás at Serra Dourada filled the Flamengo fans with dreams.
Since then, there have been six away defeats. It was enough to wake up the fans, coach, and players.
"The team has to learn to play on the opposing side of the pitch. They have to act with the same determination they show here. Because of our mistakes, we lost important points. Two examples: the games against Palmeiras and Internacional—when Flamengo lost 2-1 and 3-0," Joel recalled.
To try to break its away winless streak, Flamengo will welcome back Argentine Maxi Biancucchi. Messi's cousin hasn't played since August 26, when he suffered a muscle injury in the 3-1 victory over Goiás. Maxi has two goals in the Brasileirão. He scored one against Fluminense and another against Juventude in the 4-0 rout in the first round.
"I wanted to come back from a time warp, and I ended up feeling it. Now, I'm fully recovered and really eager to play. I think I can even last 90 minutes," said the Argentine striker, who will partner Souza.
Coach Joel Santana isn't so sure about Maxi's physical condition. He's prepared for the possibility of having to substitute the player. "He won't be 100 percent physically," the coach warned. "I don't know if he'll be able to play the whole time."
Short Maxi's concern, however, is different: "On a small field, there's a lot of aerial play, which isn't good for me. I'll have to fight hard, because we need to win this match no matter what."
Joel complains about the 'seal dribble'
After coach Leão, from Atlético-MG, and defender Luiz Alberto, from Fluminense, yesterday it was Joel Santana's turn to criticize the 'seal dribble', by Kerlon, from Cruzeiro.
Acquitted of the accusation of having encouraged violence in the game against Santos, the Flamengo coach measured his words this time, but did not hide his opinion regarding the incident involving Coelho, who attacked Kerlon, on Sunday.
"They both made mistakes. Against Flamengo, our team was winning 3-1, and Kerlon came on. He didn't dribble. At that point in the game against Atlético-MG, he was wrong to do that. If every time his team is winning, he puts the ball on his head, it will be difficult. He didn't do it when the team was losing," Joel recalled.
For Flamengo's coach, it's difficult to control his nerves in defeat: "No player likes to see that kind of play when they're losing the match. And anyone who says otherwise is lying."
OBINA'S APPEAL
Flamengo's lawyer, Michel Assef Filho, filed an appeal yesterday with the Superior Court of Sports Justice, requesting a new trial for striker Obina, this time before the full Superior Court of Justice (STJD). He believes the new hearing will not be held until October 4th.
Roger is out of the match in Caxias do Sul
However, Biancucchi is confirmed in the attack
Rio - Due to his lack of muscle strength, midfielder Roger is ruled out of the Brazilian Championship match against Juventude in Caxias do Sul. This Thursday, the player underwent physical recovery treatment and did isokinetic (strength) training in the Gávea weight room.
Now, according to coach Joel Santana, Roger's return is expected for next Saturday's match against Atlético Mineiro at Maracanã. However, the red-and-black manager will finally be able to count on Maxi Biancucchi. Recovered from a muscle injury, the Argentine will only be unable to play the entire match.
"I've been training and my leg is fine. I tried to come back earlier and forced myself too hard. I learned my lesson," he said in an interview with Rádio Brasil.
Sports Gazette
Joel avoids comparison with the first round to motivate Fla\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Unless anything unusual happens off the field, Flamengo is all but set for its match against Juventude this Sunday in Caxias do Sul. The Rio de Janeiro team will take the field next Sunday with the following lineup: Bruno, Leonardo Moura, Ronaldo Angelim, Fábio Luciano, and Juan; Rômulo, Jaílton, Cristian, and Toró; Maxi and Souza. With 33 points, Flamengo needs a win to further distance itself from the Brasileirão relegation zone. In the first round, at Maracanã, Flamengo defeated Juventude 4-0. Joel Santana, however, is avoiding using this first game as motivation for Sunday.
"The first-round match isn't a good indicator of Flamengo or Juventude. Their team has significantly improved since then, so they'll have a different approach. Furthermore, the match will be in the South, with a climate we don't like and an even greater degree of difficulty. Even in Rio de Janeiro, they created many scoring opportunities and failed to capitalize on them."
"Flamengo were very competent in their finishing and left the field with a rout that gave the false impression of ease. So much so that halfway through the second half, the score was still only 2005-2 to Flamengo," said Joel Santana, who in his previous stint with Flamengo, in the 2 Brazilian Championship, made his debut in Caxias do Sul in a XNUMX-XNUMX draw with Juventude, which served as a rally to save the team from relegation.
Off the field, left-back Juan finally signed his new contract with Flamengo, which will run until the end of 2010. Although the two parties reached an agreement ten days ago, the commitment had not yet been finalized, and there was talk of him leaving Gávea at the end of this season, as he was reportedly in the plans of some Spanish teams. However, the player made a statement confirming that he is happy at Flamengo and that he does not intend to leave the Rubro-Negro any time soon.
Maxi trains and plays. Roger remains out of Flamengo.\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Flamengo coach Joel Santana led a tactical training session on Thursday morning at Gávea and practically defined the team for this Sunday's match against Juventude, at 16 pm (Brasília time), at the Alfredo Jaconi stadium, in Caxias do Sul (RS), for the 27th round of the Brazilian Championship.\ Argentine striker Maxi Biancucchi, recovered from a left thigh injury, participated normally in the activity and will play in the game, forming a duo with Souza. Midfielder Roger, however, remains sidelined to improve his fitness and will not even be included in the squad for the duel.\
Maxi Biancucchi's return is crucial for Joel Santana, who has lost three attacking players in less than four days. Renato Augusto, who occasionally plays in the midfield, suffered a strained right thigh and will be out for at least 15 days, and Paulo Sérgio, who fractured his left collarbone in the 1-1 draw with Vasco, will be out for at least six weeks. Obina was also suspended for 120 days by the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) for elbowing Internacional defender Índio.
Joel deeply regretted the constant changes in attack on Thursday. "We were caught off guard in some situations. We lost Souza, who was suspended for seven games, Maxi was injured for I don't know how many games, and Íbson is now out. Not to mention other losses due to cards and minor injuries. But this is the reality of the Brazilian Championship, with games on Wednesdays and Sundays, an average of nine matches per month, and many difficulties," said Joel.
With Íbson out due to a left ankle injury, the coach will repeat the midfield he used against Vasco, ruling out the use of Argentine Colace, signed as a star player and yet to start a match. "He's a player who arrived recently, has been part of the squad, and will be called up to play at the right time. But we need to be very calm before launching him," said the Flamengo coach.
If nothing unusual happens off the field, Flamengo will be lined up with the following: Bruno; Leonardo Moura, Ronaldo Angelim, Fábio Luciano and Juan; Rômulo, Jaílton, Cristian and Toró; Maxi and Souza.
PeléNet
Maxi is unlikely to last 90 minutes on his return to Flamengo
From the Editorial Team\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Next Sunday's Brazilian Championship match against Juventude in Caxias do Sul marks the return of Argentine Maxi Biancucchi to Flamengo's squad after seven games out due to injury. Due to his long absence, the player is unlikely to play the full 90 minutes.
However, Maxi promises to do his best to stay on the field as long as he can. "I'm ready to play, but I don't know for how long. I'll go out there and give my best as long as I'm able. If I feel like I can't run anymore, I'll ask to be substituted," he said.
Maxi has been out for Flamengo since suffering a left thigh injury during the match against Goiás seven rounds ago. At that time, he was diagnosed with a grade one strain.
Because the injury was minor, the club's coaching staff expected the Argentine to return for the match against Internacional three rounds ago. However, Maxi felt pain in his right thigh again and missed the match against the Colorado team. As a result, he also missed the games against Cruzeiro last Wednesday and Vasco da Gama last Sunday.
Joel wants his first away win against Fla to speed up his escape from relegation
From the Editorial Team\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Since returning to Flamengo, coach Joel Santana has been chasing his first away win with the team in this Brazilian Championship. With a chance to secure his first victory with the team next Sunday against Juventude in Caxias do Sul, the coach wants a positive result to accelerate the team's escape from relegation.
However, he knows that to achieve this, Flamengo will have to significantly improve its away record. So far, the team has won only one away game, in the second round of the championship, before Joel Santana's arrival – the team was still managed by Ney Franco.
"Very little has been done so far. Just one match, against Goiás, which was one of the first. The team has to learn to play away from home. That's always been important in the Brazilian league, but it's not happening with Flamengo," he commented.
Joel Santana gave yet another reason to emphasize the importance of away wins from now on. For the coach, the team has a good opportunity to reduce the risk of relegation by winning its next away matches, as they will be against direct rivals in the relegation battle.
"Even more so now that we have six-point games against Juventude, Paraná [in Curitiba] and Náutico [in Recife]. These are teams that are dependent on us slipping up. And if we win, we pass the responsibility onto them," the coach noted.
Finally, Joel Santana spoke about the approach that Flamengo needs to take away from home to achieve positive results as visitors from now on.
"Play with balance, similar to the way we play here in Rio, and with the same desire and strength. We failed to achieve good results more because of our own mistakes than because of our opponents' creativity. Like against Palmeiras and Inter, for example," the coach concluded.
Joel regrets lack of consistency in Flamengo's lineup
From the Editorial Team\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Since returning to Flamengo for his fourth stint with the club, coach Joel Santana has yet to find a new starting lineup. So far, he has played 13 matches against 13 different teams.
That's why, after Thursday's training session at Gávea, he lamented the lack of consistency in Flamengo's lineup. "I wanted to give the team continuity," Joel said, pointing out the reasons for so many changes to the lineup.
"We lost a striker [Obina] and I've lost count of how many injuries and cards have hampered us. All of this has forced me to change the team," he explained.
Obina is Joel Santana's latest absence because he was suspended for 120 days by the STJD (Superior Court of Sports Justice), for attacking Inter defender Índio with an elbow.
Therefore, the striker is initially out of the Brazilian Championship. However, Flamengo's legal department will file an appeal requesting a new trial for the athlete in an attempt to reduce his sentence.
However, since taking over at Flamengo, starting with the Santos game, Joel has consistently lost a starter. Souza missed seven matches due to a suspension from the Superior Court of Justice (STJD). In the last round, he was absent from the team due to a third yellow card, but he returns against Juventude next Sunday in Caxias do Sul for the Brazilian Championship.
Argentine Maxi Biancucchi also missed seven games, but with a left thigh strain. However, he will also return to the team against Juventude.
Midfielder Roger, defensive midfielder Ibson and midfielder Renato Augusto remain out. The former is still out trying to regain fitness, having faced a tough stretch of games for Flamengo after being sidelined for three months at Corinthians by coach Paulo César Carpegiani.
Meanwhile, Ibson and Renato Augusto are injured. The defensive midfielder is still recovering from a severe right ankle sprain suffered in the match against Inter. And the midfielder is expected to miss at least two more Flamengo games (Juventude and Atlético-MG, at Maracanã) due to a right thigh strain suffered during the derby against Vasco.
BalloonSport
Roger in the final stages of recovery
The midfielder's performance in recent training sessions impresses Flamengo's fitness coach
Marcio Iannacca
Roger will be released to face Atlético-MG on the 29th
Midfielder Roger's performance in Flamengo's recent training sessions has surprised fitness coach Ronaldo Torres. The coach revealed the player's stats in his physical reconditioning process this Thursday in Gávea.
Away from the team since September 8th, midfielder Roger underwent ten 300-meter sprints and completed each in one minute. According to Ronaldo Torres, the normal speed of any athlete is 13 km/h, and the midfielder completed the course at 18 km/h.
"He ran the races at 170 beats per minute, which dropped to 140 shortly after. He's doing great. Next week, I'll hand Roger over to Joel, and he'll be ready to go on the field," reveals Ronaldo Torres.
The fitness coach revealed the reasons why Roger had trouble performing well in the Flamengo shirt.
"We created a program, and during that program, we realized that Roger's muscles were lacking strength. He was out for a long time, and we're working to ensure he can play the full 90 minutes of every match. He was out for a long time," says the fitness coach.
Maxi used to small fields
The dimensions of Alfredo Jaconi, in Caxias do Sul, do not scare the Argentine from Flamengo
Marcio Iannacca
Maxi Biancucchi is not worried about the dimensions of Alfredo Jaconi
Striker Maxi Biancucchi isn't afraid of the size and proximity of the crowd at Alfredo Jaconi Stadium in Caxias do Sul. Flamengo will face Juventude next Sunday, and the Argentine is accustomed to facing this type of challenge.
"On small pitches, teams play more with aerial balls, which isn't my strong point. Besides the high ball, the game is played more aggressively," the Argentine analyzes, stating that Arsenal's stadium in Argentina is similar to Juventude's.
Without Paulo Sérgio, who is injured, and Obina, who is suspended by the Superior Court of Justice (STJD), Joel has already confirmed Maxi and Souza in the attack. Both, incidentally, are the coach's favorites for the position. For the Argentine, the shortage in attack is no reason to relax.
"We have to make an effort to maintain the coach's trust. This increases our responsibility," says Maxi.
Injuries and suspensions hamper Fla
Since taking over the red-black team, Joel has not been able to repeat the lineup
Marcio Iannacca
Joel tries to explain absences due to suspension and injury in the red-black team
Coach Joel Santana took over Flamengo on August 5th, following a 3-0 loss to Santos. Since then, 12 games later, the coach has been unable to repeat the same lineup for the red-and-black team. Whether due to injury, yellow and red cards, or suspensions from the Superior Court of Justice (STJD), the Gávea team's manager always has a headache in the following round.
Cards and suspensions
In just over a month at Flamengo, Joel has already lost Souza twice. The first time, the striker was suspended for five games by the Superior Court of Sports Justice. In the following trial, he was suspended for two more matches. When he returned to the team, the player received a third yellow card and was out for the Red-Blacks. In total, he missed nine Brazilian Championship matches.
Another player facing a court case with the Superior Court of Justice (STJD) is striker Obina. "The Black Angel" was suspended for elbowing Internacional defender Índio. The Bahia native was suspended for 120 days (watch the video below). Flamengo's legal department has filed an appeal and is awaiting a new trial in October. The coach, who has also lost Roger for three matches due to yellow and red cards, is trying to explain the absences.
"All the players have already been warned about the cards. Players need to maintain balance on the field. These situations happen because something is bothering the players. You were in the relegation zone and under enormous pressure. In football, you don't just work on the tactical, technical, and physical aspects. Nowadays, the psychological aspect is also important, but it doesn't happen overnight," Joel analyzes.
Physical preparation at the limit
Besides the punishments, the coach is facing a dilemma. Every round, a player suffers some kind of injury. Muscle problems are the witch at Gávea. Roger, Maxi Biancucchi, Fábio Luciano, Cristian, and now, for the second time, Renato Augusto. All have suffered or are suffering from some kind of injury.
Maxi, for example, was out of the squad for almost a month and returns on Sunday against Juventude. Roger left the team on September 8th for physical reconditioning and has not yet returned (watch the video above). He is expected to return only against Atlético-MG on the 29th. Another player who is out for this Internacional match is midfielder Ibson, who took a knock to his right ankle. Other problems may arise in the future.
"I decided not to push my players too hard during this free week. I didn't even expect to have everyone back on Wednesday, and they all participated. Maxi is returning. Cristian and Fábio Luciano aren't at their best and trained. There's always a risk of injury, so I can't think about that right now," reveals the red-and-black coach.
Does a gaming marathon explain everything?
Joel Santana tries to find an explanation for Flamengo's problems this season. He believes the team's marathon of games is a plausible excuse for Flamengo's suspensions and injuries.
The sequence of games began on August 5th, with a 3-0 defeat to Santos, and only ended on September 16th, with a 1-1 draw with Vasco. In 41 days, Flamengo took to the field 13 times, an average of one match every three days.
"We played more than ten games in a month. Of course, cards and injuries will happen. We had a striker suspended for seven games (Souza), another injured (Paulo Sérgio), and another suspended (Obina). In the derby against Vasco, I was without five players. Any team in Brazil without five players is useless. It's difficult to maintain balance," he says.
English Flamengos will face each other in 2008
Bromley and Birmingham have two friendlies scheduled for next year.
Thiago Dias
'Willinho' is the number 11 of Flamengo de Bromley, in England
Flamengo fans, who would you root for in a Flamengo vs. Flamengo match? Well, pick one: in May and June 2008, the "subsidiaries" of England's Mengão will face off.
After being revealed by GLOBOESPORTE.COM, Bromley Flamengo FC, from Bromley (near London), and Flamengo FC, from Birmingham, scheduled two friendlies for next year.
- I got in touch with the guy from Birmingham Flamengo and we're going to play in 2008. It won't be possible before because our seasons have just started - explains William Morriss, founder of Bromley Flamengo, via email.
William, nicknamed "Willinho" by his teammates, also says that he was approached by dozens of fans of the Gávea club.
"I received over thirty emails from Flamengo fans. Most wanted to know how they could get a shirt from our team. One even offered to play for Bromley Flamengo!" he says.
Amateur teams
England's Flamengos compete in amateur tournaments in the country, held on Sundays. Both teams were inspired by the Rio de Janeiro club, mainly because of Zico.
Throw
Joel wants Fla to impose itself away from home
LANCEPRESS!
Flamengo coach Joel Santana stated that he wants to see his team perform well away from home. The Rubro-Negro has one of the worst away records, having won only one match. To put an end to this, Natalino urges the players to quickly adapt to the stadiums where the team will play from now on. Joel also emphasized that this is merely an observation.
radio l! - We can't expect the team to play everywhere like they do at Maracanã. I'm just asking them to adapt more quickly to the pitch, to the game itself. Only then can we win away from home again - he says. (Click and listen)joel2009_02
Flamengo travels to Caxias do Sul to face Juventude on Sunday in the Brazilian Championship, seeking to move away from the relegation zone that has haunted the Gávea club since the beginning of the competition.
Juan's renewal came at a good time
The full-back is the team's standout in the Brazilian Championship and is close to achieving the milestone
Juan close to completing 100 games for Flamengo (Credit: Gilban de Souza)
LANCEPRESS!\ Juan's renewal until 2010 is great news for Flamengo fans. The full-back is one of Flamengo's standout performers this season, with solid performances, passes, and goals.\
In the Brazilian Championship alone, Juan is Flamengo's best player, leading several fundamentals (assists, crosses, tackles and passes), in addition to being the team's top scorer, with five goals.
And Juan has another reason to celebrate. The left-back, who arrived in early 2006, is close to completing his 95th appearance for Flamengo. Juan has already played 13 matches for Flamengo and scored XNUMX goals.
Flamengo's physical trainer already expected injuries
According to Ronaldo Torres, it was necessary to take some risks
LANCEPRESS!
Flamengo's recent muscle injuries have been hampering Joel Santana's ability to field the team in recent games. Maxi Biancucchi, Renato Augusto, and Ronaldo Angelim have all suffered thigh injuries, as have Fábio Luciano, who almost missed the derby against Vasco for the same reason, and Roger, who is undergoing muscle strengthening work.
Fitness coach Ronaldo Torres explained that injuries could occur, especially with those signed in the second half of the year, who arrived at Gávea with the season underway and without ideal preparation.
"The players were hired and had little time to get in shape. We had to take risks, and injuries were expected. We had little time to work, but that will start to improve," said Ronaldo, who hopes to have more time to improve the players' physical condition without midweek games.
Joel hopes the injuries will end
Coach hopes to select the ideal team in the next rounds
Rafael Ximenes
Coach Joel Santana has been dealing with a series of injured or bruised players, which has made it difficult to field Flamengo's starting lineup. The coach hopes this will end so he can field his ideal team for the Brazilian Championship.
"We lost a striker for seven games, now Obina, and a series of injuries and bookings. Now I'm returning with a core group, but Roger and Ibson are still missing, but that's how it is in the Brazilian league. I hope the injuries stop and I can field the ideal team," said Joel Santana.
Joel's so-called ideal team is: Bruno, Léo Moura, Fábio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Rômulo, Cristian, Ibson and Roger; Souza and Maxi Biancucchi.
The club's fitness coach, Ronaldo Torres, explains the number of players in the medical department with the lack of time he had to work.
"The players are suffering a lot of wear and tear. They were signed and had little time to get fit. It was a risk we had to take, and injuries were already expected. We had little time to work, but that will start to improve," said Ronaldo Torres.
Obina's appeal will only be heard in October
Flamengo lawyer's strategy is to work to reduce the sentence of the Flamengo darling, accused of assaulting an Indian
(Credit: Paulo Sérgio)
Rafael Ximenes
Striker Obina was suspended by the Superior Court of Justice (STJD) for 120 days for assaulting Internacional defender Índio in the 3-0 loss to the Rio Grande do Sul team. Flamengo's lawyer, Michel Assef Filho, filed an appeal this Thursday to try to reduce the sentence of the Flamengo favorite, but the new trial will not take place until two weeks later, on October 4th.
Fla's lawyer wants to change article 253 of the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice (aggression) to 255 (act of hostility) or 258 (attitude contrary to discipline).
The red-black striker participated normally in the technical training session this Thursday and then did isokinetic work (muscular resistance) with physiologist Paulo Figueiredo.
With the trial scheduled for October 4, Obina will be out of at least Flamengo's next three games in the Brazilian Championship.