The Globe
At the bottom of the table and in crisis, Flamengo plays a game that will decide Ney Franco's future.
In search of peace, the team faces América-RN today in Juiz de Fora
Márcio Tavares
JUIZ DE FORA, MG. The atmosphere is much less tense than the day before in Gávea, when a group of fans protested the team's performance, currently in last place in the Brazilian Championship. But everyone knows that, despite the calm reception in Juiz de Fora, Flamengo needs to beat América-RN, also in the relegation zone, today at 20:30 p.m. at the Municipal Stadium, to ease the crisis.
A few jokes from the stands didn't shake the calm during yesterday's recreational training session. Coach Ney Franco, however, is well aware that danger is imminent. Calmly, Ney repeated his calming speech from the previous day, stating that he considered the fans' angry reaction normal. At the same time, he didn't hide his resentment because he knew that the main leaders of the movement calling for his ouster want him to leave for the simple pleasure of removing him from office, not because the team is in the relegation zone.
"If we win and they keep pressuring me to take me out, it's a personal matter. Then it gets difficult," said Ney Franco after training.
No matter how much the club's management tries to downplay the crisis, the threat of relegation is so clear that Ney didn't travel from Rio to Juiz de Fora on the club's bus. He chose to travel in his own car, suggesting that if he stumbles again, he won't return to Rio. To win, Ney made few changes to the team. The only change is Obina replacing Souza, who was sent off against Grêmio.
"No one is satisfied with the situation. The return of a positive atmosphere is directly linked to performance on the field. When the team plays well, the fans are behind us. That's why we need to be focused tomorrow (today)," said the red-and-black coach.
In Souza's place, Obina warns: he is not a savior
Chosen to replace Souza, Obina is concerned about the huge expectations that may be being created regarding his presence as a starter again.
The constant smile was replaced by a serious expression and the words, usually in a joking tone, sounded like a sensible warning.
"I'm not the savior of the nation. Flamengo's pressure is intense, and they expect me to step in and make the difference, and that doesn't always happen. I hope everyone can give a little more so the team can get out of this situation, and that the fans have more patience, because no one can perform at their best under pressure."
Flamengo: Bruno, Irineu, Ronaldo Angelim and Thiago; Leonardo Moura, Cristian, Jailton, Leo Medeiros and Juan; Obina and Renato Augusto. America-RN: Renê, Edson Borges, Carlos Eduardo and Rogelio; Nei Santos, Reinaldo, Marquinhos, Souza and Marcinho; Paulo Isidoro and Arlon. Referee: Wilson Seneme (SP).\ BROADCAST: Premiere, Radio Globo and CBN\
Sports Journal
Ney Franco is expected to field Obina, but he still can't count on Roger.
Coach Ney Franco is in the final stages of deciding on the team that will face América-RN next Wednesday in Juiz de Fora. And there may be a new addition to the lineup: forward Obina, recently reinstated to the squad.
Although the coach still has doubts about the starting lineup, one thing is certain: Roger won't be able to play. The midfielder hopes Corinthians will release the remaining documentation necessary for Flamengo to register him for the Brazilian Championship.
"We are waiting for Corinthians' willingness to give the registration to the CBF so that Flamengo can register," the player told Rádio Tupi, also stating that he doubts that the São Paulo club will release the documents before the match between Flamengo and Corinthians, next Sunday.
While waiting for his debut in the red and black shirt, Roger trains with the rest of the squad and, according to the player himself, the preparation has been better than expected.
"In the first ten minutes of physical training, I thought I wouldn't make it. But I adapted, and in the end, it was very positive, as I finished well. Now, we have more tactical training, with the ball, and that's it. I'll keep working to come back strong," he concluded.
The return of Flamengo's 'Black Angel'
With Obina among the starters, Flamengo needs to beat América-RN to calm the fans
Thiago Bokel
Flamengo's top scorer and darling, Obina, is the team's hope for goals and a much better run in the Brazilian Championship. Flamengo is currently bottom of the table.
Embroiled in an unprecedented crisis, Flamengo faces América-RN today at 20:30 pm at the Mario Helênio Stadium in Juiz de Fora. With both teams in the relegation zone, the match has taken on the appearance of a decisive one, as both teams try to pull away from the bottom of the table. To the nation's delight, Obina will start.
He hasn't started a match since the start of the Guanabara Cup semifinal on February 25th, when he ruptured the cruciate ligaments in his left knee against Vasco. Although coach Ney Franco has already stated that Obina is unlikely to be fit to play the full 90 minutes, he has become the lifeline for the coach's continued tenure at the helm. The striker, however, doesn't want that label.
"I'm fine and I hope to play the whole match. But I want to let the fans know that I'm not a savior. I'm just another player trying to get the team out of this situation. The responsibility has to be shared by the whole group," explained the striker.
Roger criticizes former club
While Obina will be fit to play, the same cannot be said for midfielder Roger, who will be sidelined because he has not yet been regularized with the CBF. Upset by the situation, the player lashed out at his former club.
"I bet Corinthians officials won't give me permission to play Sunday's game either. They'll do everything they can to stop me from playing again," the supporter vented.
In this war-torn climate, Flamengo will enter the field tonight determined to put the crisis behind them once and for all and continue the work of coach Ney Franco.
He has been heavily criticized and, in the event of another defeat or even a draw, he should be fired.
Souza close to having his contract terminated at Fla
Striker Souza's situation at Flamengo is definitely not good. He was heavily insulted by fans before training on Monday, and his contract may be terminated in the coming days. Vice-president of football Kleber Leite prefers to remain silent until the player's trial for the red cards against Figueirense and then against Grêmio is over.
"Regarding Souza, I'll wait for the Superior Court of Justice (STJD) ruling to give my response. I won't say anything before then," the director explained. The vice president of football's response clashed with that of coach Ney Franco, who, before Kleber commented on the case, implied he didn't know what would be done with Souza.
"Up until the moment he was sent off, there was no lack of commitment. The matter is in the hands of the board," said the coach, dodging the issue.
The striker's relationship with the fans isn't good. This Monday, after training, he met with members of the organized fan club for about half an hour and, visibly dejected, left Gávea without speaking to the press. The way he left the locker room, with tears in his eyes, made it seem as if Souza already knew he would be punished. He recently had a serious disagreement with supervisor Isaías Tinoco. His sending-off against Grêmio on Sunday may have sealed his fate.
Roger is not registered with the CBF
Previously expected to face América-RN this Wednesday, midfielder Roger is out. The player wasn't registered in time and isn't traveling with the rest of the group to Juiz de Fora on Tuesday morning. When he learned he couldn't count on his new signing, coach Ney Franco, caught off guard, had already made plans to send the midfielder onto the field.
"If Roger is fit to play, he should start the match as a substitute and I'll likely put him on in the second half," said the coach, unaware that the player wouldn't even be boarding the plane with the delegation.
Since Roger won't be able to play, the coach took the opportunity to share some good news with the red-and-black fans. Obina, who had been coming on as a substitute in matches, should get his first start in the match against América-RN.
"I'm considering starting Obina. He's been regaining his best form, and since I won't be able to count on Souza, he should have a chance to start the match. We'll have a training session in Juiz de Fora, and if I find the formation we use interesting, I'll confirm it for the match against América," the coach stated.
However, Ney Franco knows that Obina will not be able to play the full 90 minutes, but said he will keep him on the field as long as he can handle.
O Dia
Hope is Obina
Without Souza, suspended, Ney Franco announces the return of the striker as a starter
Juiz de Fora - Flamengo coach Ney Franco confirmed on Tuesday that Obina will return for tonight's game, starting at 20:30 p.m., at the Mário Helênio Stadium, against América-RN. He replaces Souza, who was sent off against Grêmio and is suspended, and will form the attack with Renato Augusto.
Flamengo is bottom of the Brazilian league with eight points from 10 games, and coach Ney Franco knows that if the team doesn't win this Wednesday, he'll have a hard time staying in charge. That's why he's banking on Obina's return to secure victory and regain the fans' support.
On Tuesday, the coach led a recreational training session in Juiz de Fora, in front of approximately 50 fans. Unlike the previous day in Rio, when fans went to Gávea to protest against the team and demand Ney's dismissal, the atmosphere was calm.
During training, fans cheered the team and sang the Flamengo anthem. But they also criticized some players. The main target was defender Irineu, who scored the own goal that gave Grêmio a 1-0 victory on Sunday. Every time he touched the ball, fans, ironically, called for him to be marked.
Obina, meanwhile, was applauded and his name chanted by the fans. Therefore, Ney Franco hopes that the return of the striker, who hasn't started since February 25th, when he sprained his left knee, will encourage fans to support the team against América. "We'll start with him and talk at halftime to see if he's fit to continue," Ney Franco told Rádio Brasil.
América-RN is also in a desperate situation. With 10 points from 13 games, three more than Flamengo, the Rio Grande do Norte team sits in 18th place, also in the relegation zone, but is coming off a 2-1 victory over Atlético-PR.
At Gávea, Kléberson is considered as the newest reinforcement
Rio - According to Radio Tupi, midfielder Kléberson, who won five World Cup titles in Korea and Japan with the Brazilian national team in 2002, was offered to Flamengo's management. The idea was considered a good one, and the player, who was playing in Turkish football, could be Flamengo's next reinforcement for the Brazilian Championship.
Regarding Roger's starting lineup against Corinthians, the player himself finds it very difficult to participate in the match against his former club. He claims he's not yet in optimal physical condition.
Sports Gazette
Flamengo tries to avoid embarrassment and save Neymar against América-RN\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Bottom of the Brazilian Championship with just eight points, Flamengo is looking to bounce back this Wednesday when they face América-RN at the Mário Helênio Stadium in Juiz de Fora in the 14th round, at 20:30 pm (Brasília time). The game will not be played at the Maracanã stadium because the stadium is being leased for the Pan American Games, which could be beneficial for the red-and-blacks, who have suffered from pressure from their fans in recent days. If Flamengo stumbles, coach Ney Franco will be unlikely to be retained, as the team from Rio Grande do Norte has ten points and is also in the relegation zone. The coach is looking to appear calm and confident in the team's comeback, which, in his opinion, has been performing well.
"Flamengo hasn't played badly in recent games, but they couldn't get the result and lost in the details. We can't despair. We're working correctly, and with a little more calm, a positive result will come. I'm sure a victory will change our situation," commented the coach.
However, even with the victory, Flamengo won't escape the relegation zone. To escape the bottom four, they'll need three straight wins, and some positive results. "We have to take each game one at a time. Of course, if we can win two or three in a row, we'll be out of the relegation zone," he explained.
For him, the team can't rush out of this situation. "Flamengo is thinking long-term about this championship, as we can't even count on our reinforcements, who aren't expected to debut until August. Until their debut, we'll have to live with a reduced squad, as we've lost key players, like Renato, who left the club," Franco noted.
The players seem focused on the goal of getting Flamengo out of the relegation zone as quickly as possible. One of the few to give interviews, defender Ronaldo Angelim doesn't shy away from his responsibilities. "We can't say that the blame for what's happening lies with one person or another, but rather with the whole project. We all share our share of responsibility, and we will work to get Flamengo out of this situation," said Angelim.
For this match, Ney Franco will be without midfielder Roger, as expected, as the player's documentation hasn't been regularized with the CBF. Also out is forward Souza, who was sent off against Grêmio. The team will only be announced in the locker room, but Souza's replacement has been decided. "We'll start with Obina, even though we know he might not last the full 90 minutes. If that's the case, he'll come off at halftime," commented the manager.
For América, coach Marcelo Veiga won't be able to replicate the team that secured their first home win, a 2-1 victory over Atlético-PR. This is because left-back Márcio Goiano received his third yellow card and will be suspended. Thiago Machado will replace him.
Regarding Wednesday's game, Marcelo Veiga makes no secret of the fact that he will try to capitalize on his opponent's poor form. "Of course, we'll try to capitalize on Flamengo's desperation, and the best way to do that is to just play it safe, letting time pass and trying to capitalize on their mistakes, which will only make them more desperate as time goes on," Veiga analyzed.
PeléNet
Fla and América-RN begin an attempt to make a comeback to avoid risk
Among the bottom-placed teams in the Brazilian Championship, Flamengo and América-RN face off this Wednesday at 20:30 pm in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais. Due to their poor performances, a win in this match won't be enough to lift them out of the relegation zone. Therefore, in this match, both teams are trying to launch a comeback to escape the relegation zone.
Flamengo's situation is the most complicated. In crisis, the team, which only has eight points (with three games in hand), also needs a win to secure the tenure of coach Ney Franco. Even though he's highly regarded by the board, the coach will be in an untenable position if he loses or even draws on Wednesday.
Last Sunday, the red-and-black team dropped to last place in the league with a loss to Grêmio—their second in a row in the competition. Furthermore, they went eight games and two months without a win. Flamengo's last and only positive result (the longest-running team in Serie A) was on May 20th, against Goiás, in Goiânia.
That's why, last Monday, about 30 fans went to Gávea to protest the team's poor form and demand Ney Franco's departure. The coach, with tears in his eyes, was met with hostility and assured that he would not resign.
"If I thought the blame for the poor results were solely mine, I would have resigned already. But right now, I don't believe that's the case. Football is a collective sport, and negative results happen. We need to find out what's wrong and change the situation as soon as possible," said Ney Franco, while being insulted by fans.
"The fans are expressing their frustration and are doing their part to protest. This isn't the first time this has happened in football. We would have preferred to be working in a calmer atmosphere, but we managed to focus on the work at hand," continued the red-and-black coach.
América-RN, on the other hand, comes into the match feeling more relaxed. This Wednesday, the team—which has ten points and is in 18th place—is seeking its second straight win, having defeated Atlético-PR last Saturday. Thus, the team, which also beat Paraná in the tenth round and Santos in the second, is a little closer to achieving its main objective.
"This victory against Atlético-PR was very important. Now, we have to take it one step at a time. We have a plan of 14 wins to avoid relegation and we've already achieved two," said coach Marcelo Veiga, who wasn't in charge of the team in the victory over Santos - he only debuted in the defeat to Palmeiras, in the ninth round.
Obina returns to the starting lineup after five months. Despite his position being threatened, coach Ney Franco is betting on maintaining the three-defender system and the team that lost to Grêmio. The only change will be forced: Obina replacing Souza, who is suspended following his red card in last Sunday's match.
Thus, the fans' favorite returns to the starting lineup after exactly five months. The striker last started on February 25th, when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee against Vasco da Gama in the Rio State Championship.
"We all know that Obina is not yet fit to play 90 minutes, but he will start Wednesday's match. I don't know how long he will be able to play, so I'm going to leave him on the field until he can handle it," said Ney Franco, who had been promoting Obina's return gradually - the striker came on in the second half of the games against Paraná and Grêmio.
At América-RN, coach Marcelo Veiga lost striker Nunes, who has agreed to a transfer to Arab football. The coach will also be without left-back Márcio Goiano, who is suspended for his third yellow card. Marcinho will replace him.
Roger fears that Corinthians will prevent his debut against his former team
Flamengo's main signing for the second half of the year, midfielder Roger was hoping to make his debut for the Rio de Janeiro team next Sunday against Corinthians in the Brazilian Championship. However, the player fears the São Paulo club will do everything in its power to prevent him from playing his first match for the red-and-black team, against his former team.
So much so that Roger has not yet been registered with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) as a Flamengo player because Corinthians has not yet sent the athlete's documentation to the Gávea club, despite him having already presented himself to the red-blacks more than a week ago - on July 13th. Therefore, he no longer believes in the possibility of being registered in the Brazilian Championship by Sunday.
"We were hoping Corinthians would be willing to send the documentation to Flamengo to register with the CBF. But unfortunately, they haven't sent it yet. Let's see if they can even play the game against themselves, which I think is unlikely. I think they'll drag it out until next week. I hope not, because I'm dying to make my debut," the player told Rádio Tupi.
The anticipation for his debut is understandable, as Roger hasn't played in over three months. His last match was on April 11th, against Santo André, in the Campeonato Paulista. Afterward, coach Paulo César Carpegiani took over the Corinthians team and removed him from the main squad.
As a result, Roger is still far from his ideal form, but he hoped to make his debut early to help the team escape the relegation zone. In fact, the player assured that his time at Corinthians left him "hardened" when it comes to handling pressure.
"I played for a club similar to Flamengo, where the pressure is immense. If you don't get results, the pressure is intense," Roger said, adding that his teammates are also prepared. "The players here know that's how Flamengo is. The only way to turn things around is on the field," he declared.
Roger was signed on loan from Corinthians until the end of this year. If Flamengo wants to retain the midfielder after the contract expires, they must express their desire to purchase 50% of the player's economic rights (for US$500) by November 30th.
BalloonSport
Obina misses swinging the net
Black Angel wants to score his first goal after recovering from left knee surgery
Márcio Iannacca Special Envoy
Striker Obina hasn't scored since the Guanabara Cup semifinal against Vasco on February 25th, when he suffered a left knee injury and required surgery. Now recovered, the Black Angel hasn't scored since returning to the field. He hopes to end his drought this Wednesday against América-RN in Juiz de Fora.
"It's been a while since I scored a goal. I really miss scoring in an official match. Just scoring in training doesn't count," says the Bahia native.
Obina is Flamengo fans' main goal-scoring hope. At Tuesday's training session in Juiz de Fora, he was one of the fans' most applauded.
"It's a big responsibility. I'm ready to help Flamengo from the start of the match. I hope the goals start coming again in this match," he says.
Fla seeks motivation in the past
Ney Franco will use the Carioca final and the match against Defensor, at Maracanã, as an example
Márcio Iannacca Special Envoy
Coach Ney Franco admitted on Tuesday that two Flamengo matches during his time at the club will be remembered by the players. The games in question are the following: the Campeonato Carioca final against Botafogo, where the team won the title on penalties, and the 2-0 victory over Uruguayan side Defensor Sport in the Copa Libertadores—despite the result, the Rubro-Negro were eliminated.
"We're thinking about two games. One is the Campeonato Carioca final, where we were in an uncomfortable situation. The other is the match against Defensor, where we were constantly on top of our opponent. We had good offensive strength, without leaving our defense open. Emotionally, we'll use these two games because the team entered focused, alert, and concentrated. They were games where we played well, and we entered with a very focused team," analyzes the red-and-black coach.
The coach went further, calling the match against Defensor one of Flamengo's best of the season. Ney Franco took the opportunity to share his recipe for winning again.
"Everyone needs to be focused and committed to the game. The players need to know it's a chance to get out of a bad situation. In that game against Defensor, the situation was about chasing a spot in another round of the Libertadores. Now, Flamengo is in last place, already at the bottom, and our alternative is to go for it," he states.
Ney: 'We have to get over it'
Coach says team needs to respect rivals, but can't let victory slip away
Márcio Iannacca Special Envoy
Kléber Leite and Ney Franco talk during Flamengo's training session in Juiz de Fora
Before the finals of the Copa do Brasil in July 2006 and the Campeonato Carioca in April 2007, coach Ney Franco was asked about his confidence in winning both titles. On both occasions, the answers were positive, and Flamengo lifted the trophies. Now, languishing at the bottom of the Brasileirão with Flamengo, the coach shows his belief in a strong run of form for his charges.
"I'm very confident of a good performance against América-RN. Flamengo is coming to face a rival that will be respected. But we have to go out there to win and overcome them," says the coach.
For the coach, the only way to get the fans behind Flamengo is through good football. According to Ney, the players need to give their all on the field.
"The only way to change all this is to go out on the field and win matches. If we show a good attitude, the fans will be on our side. If we play poorly, the boos will come," analyzes Ney, who spent most of Tuesday's training session talking to vice president of football Kléber Leite.
Favorable climate in Juiz de Fora
Ney Franco says the team needs to use the fans' support against América-RN
Marcio Iannacca
Flamengo delegation receives a celebration at Juiz de Fora Municipal Stadium. One day after facing pressure from some fans at Gávea Stadium, the Flamengo team is training peacefully in Juiz de Fora, aiming to beat América-RN this Wednesday night in another round of the Brazilian Championship. Coach Ney Franco believes the tranquility found in the Minas Gerais city is very welcome.
"We need to use the support we'll have in this game. But to do that, we have to play well and win. Otherwise, wherever we play, we'll have problems and suffer from the pressure coming from the stands."
In Tuesday's recreational training session, the standout performer was young striker Paulo Sérgio, who scored a beautiful goal without jumping. There were about 50 fans in the audience, with only a minority of them heckling some of the players, especially Irineu.
Throw
Obina asks Flamengo fans for patience
Striker and Flamengo idol returns to the starting lineup after surgery on his left knee and promises overall commitment
Obina promises a lot of commitment from all players (Credit: Gilvan de Souza)
LANCEPRESS!
One of the few spared from the fans' protest on Monday in Gávea, Obina will start a match again after nearly five months out due to surgery on his left knee. The striker took the opportunity to show his fans patience with the team and support them in the match against América-RN.
"I'd like to ask the fans to be a little more patient. Many players have never been through such a difficult situation at Flamengo," he said.
The striker also promised that the team will strive to bring victory after an eight-game drought.
Fla and América-RN face each other to breathe
In last place, the two teams fight for a victory in Juiz de Fora
Obina will have his first chance as a starter after surgery on his left knee (Credit: Gilvan de Souza)
Hanrikson de Andrade and Hugo Perruso
Flamengo hosts América-RN this Wednesday in Juiz de Fora – Maracanã is closed due to the Pan American Games. With ten points from 39, both need a win to avoid sinking further into the relegation zone. The last time the two teams faced each other was in 1998 in the Brazilian Championship. And the red-and-blacks don't have good memories: they lost 2-1 in Natal.
Flamengo views this match as decisive. Winless in eight games (five draws and three losses), another setback could mean the dismissal of Ney Franco. On Monday, fans protested in Gávea, calling for the departure of the coach, who won the 2006 Copa do Brasil and the 2007 Carioca Championship.
"It's a very important game for the club in terms of recovery and represents a match against our home team. It's time to start doing our homework," said Ney Franco. Flamengo has yet to win a home match in the Brazilian Championship (their only victory was against Goiás at Serra Dourada).
Without any reinforcements (Roger hasn't been regularized yet, and Ibson and Maxi won't be able to play until August), Flamengo will field virtually the same team that lost 1-0 to Grêmio. The big news will be Obina's starting lineup. The forward returned from left knee surgery, having come on as a second-half substitute in the last two games (Paraná and Grêmio) and will replace Souza, who was sent off in the first half against the team from Rio Grande do Sul.
Ney Franco confirmed the inclusion of the fans' favorite, who hasn't started a match since February 25th against Vasco, when he was injured. However, the striker isn't expected to play the entire match.
- The tendency is for him to start playing and go as far as he can - he said.
Meanwhile, América-RN, for the first time in this Brazilian Championship, is hoping to make a splash in the competition and climb out of the uncomfortable 18th position. And the timing couldn't be better, as in the last round, against Atlético-PR, the Mecão secured its first home win - with the defeats of Corinthians and Juventude, only four points separate the team from the middle of the table.
With left-back Márcio Goiano suspended due to his third yellow card, coach Marcelo Veiga is expected to bring in Marcinho. Ney Santos, who has been playing makeshift on the right wing, will be retained.
Defender Cris, who missed the last two matches due to a left thigh injury, will still have to wait to start training. The other player missing is striker Nunes, who agreed to a transfer to Arab football this week.
After protests, peace reigns in Gávea this Tuesday
Players traveled to Juiz de Fora to face América-RN
Rafael Ximenes
After a busy Monday afternoon with fans protesting the team's poor form, Tuesday morning was quiet at Flamengo. The players left for Juiz de Fora around 9 a.m.
Meanwhile, Ibson and Argentine Maximiliano Biancucchi ran around the Gávea pitch in the rain to get back into shape as quickly as possible. Roger, meanwhile, stayed in the weight room.
Striker Souza also appeared at the club, but left quickly, as did Léo Lima, who was not included in the squad for this Wednesday's game against América-RN, at 20:30 pm, in Juiz de Fora.
For Ney Franco, Fla's game is worth six points
The club needs a win to escape the bottom of the Brazilian league.
Bottom of the Brazilian league, Flamengo will face América-RN, also one of the bottom teams, this Wednesday. Needing a win to break an eight-game winless streak, coach Ney Franco considers this game crucial to their bid to escape the bottom of the table.
"There's no escaping it, it's the famous cliché: a six-point game. We can only think about victory," he stated.
If he fails again, Ney Franco's situation could become unsustainable in relation to the fans, who already called for his departure in Monday's protest in Gávea.