The Globe
Joel's return to his old humor
On the eve of the game against the leader, Fla's coach seems free from tension
Photo caption: JOEL TALKS to Maxi, who may soon lose his place at Fla
Without the weight of the world's biggest fan base on his shoulders, since the pressure of having to win this round seems relative—after all, the opponent is the increasingly isolated leader of the Brazilian Championship—coach Joel Santana regained his old good humor. For a few minutes, he shed the old mantle of a cornered savior of the red-and-black nation and, in addition to tomorrow's match against São Paulo at Maracanã, spoke naturally and freely about other topics. Some controversial.
One of them: the absence of a Brazilian representative at a gay World Cup. With his quirky delivery and manner, mixing a serious air with a half-smile, Joel drew laughter.
"Class deserves respect. If Brazil has the best players in men's and women's soccer, why wouldn't it have a gay team? It's a noble cause," he said, assuring that he saw no problem in managing a gay team.
And, speaking seriously about tomorrow's derby, Joel confirmed Flamengo's starting lineup, with Ibson back in midfield, replacing the suspended Toró. He spoke at length with Roger after yesterday afternoon's training session at Gávea, explaining why he chose to leave him on the bench.
"He's not physically prepared to play with the rhythm we need, marking hard and with the speed to attack. He's an option. He might move further forward. There, without having to mark, he could create a play, make a good move, and draw a foul...
In the second half of the training session, Joel repeated the formation he tried at the end of the match against Atlético-MG, with Léo Medeiros in midfield on the left and Leonardo up front. And he felt this would be the best option against São Paulo.
"I think I've sorted out the team with her. I've gained a key center forward, Souza has more freedom to move, and the midfield gains in marking. Against São Paulo, the key is possession. But I can't change now. It would be too risky."
Of the 79.994 tickets put on sale, 20.778 were sold yesterday. Advance sales continue today, from 11am to 17pm, at the following locations: Gávea, RioSampa (Nova Iguaçu), General Severiano, Caio Martins, Laranjeiras, Loja Kappa (Avenida das Américas, 4.200, Block 11, Barra), Loja Rox Sports (Rua Manoel Correia, 10, Duque de Caxias) and Maracanã ticket office 8. Prices: green and yellow stands, R$20 (half-price, R$10), white stands, R$25 (half-price, R$12), special seats, R$100 (half-price, R$50), regular seats, R$15 (half-price, R$7).
Sports Journal
Ibson wants Fla on the right path
Having recovered from injury, the midfielder wants Mengão to fight for something more in the Championship
Nathan de Lima and Thiago Bokel
Supporter Ibson returns to the team and wants a fighting spirit. "We can fight for something more in the Brazilian Championship."
Now it's confirmed. Coach Joel Santana will finally be able to count on an important reinforcement for the match—which is being considered a "watershed" for Flamengo in this Brazilian Championship—against São Paulo, tomorrow at 20:30 pm at Maracanã. Midfielder Ibson participated normally in the training session, in which the starters drew 0-0 with the reserves and, barring any last-minute problems, is guaranteed by the coach to face the competition leader.
The midfielder's return comes at a crucial time for Flamengo, not just fighting relegation. If they beat coach Muricy Ramalho's team, Flamengo will gain the confidence they need to prove they can still be a handful in this Brasileirão. Ibson hadn't played an official match since September 8th, when he sprained his right ankle in the 3-0 loss to Internacional in Porto Alegre. This time, however, the player will be deployed in a more advanced position, compared to the role he previously played as the main playmaker in midfield. This isn't a concern for him.
"I've played in this position before when I started at Flamengo. I didn't want to miss the game against the league leaders under any circumstances, and I hope to help Flamengo win this important match. We're still only four points above the relegation zone, and a victory will prove we can fight for more in this Brasileirão," the supporter declared.
Revenue
With Toró's suspension for his third yellow card, Ibson saw the opportunity to return to the starting lineup fall into his lap. With the experience of having played for a major European club, Porto, the player already knows the recipe for beating the best team in the competition.
"We need to play the ball well, stay calm and avoid mistakes that could lead to counterattacks, their strength. We have a team capable of standing up to São Paulo. We believe we can win, and our fans have to believe in it too," Ibson advised.
European football eyes the red-black full-backs
Juan and Leonardo Moura have been standouts in Flamengo's recent Brasileirão matches. With five goals each, the full-backs have even caught the attention of European football. In the team's next Brasileirão match, against São Paulo, scouts from Parma and Bayern Munich will be keeping an eye on the red-and-black duo, according to information provided by Flamengo's vice president of marketing, Ricardo Hinrichsen Jr.
In addition to Juan and Léo Moura, the scouts will also take the opportunity to evaluate two São Paulo players: Dagoberto and Leandro. With home-field control of the match, the club's management has provided four tickets to the European clubs.
Juan's ephemeral past at São Paulo
Nina Lima
Fullback Juan is training at Gávea Stadium. He's a key player in Joel Santana's scheme. The player urged fans to pack Maracanã tomorrow.
The match against São Paulo will have a special flavor for full-back Juan. Besides the opportunity to once again confirm his good form, the player will reunite with the club that introduced him to football. However, when he was just 17, he agreed to a transfer to Arsenal in England.
Juan's past at São Paulo is so distant that he hasn't played with anyone from this year's squad. Despite the differences between the two teams in the championship, the full-back made a point of highlighting why they've taken such different paths this season.
"We had a poor start, losing our home opener and then going a long time without playing at Maracanã and having a string of difficult away games. When we started to wake up to the championship, São Paulo had already opened up a lead that was almost impossible to overturn. But their team doesn't scare me, despite being the one everyone wants to beat. I see both sides as very strong, and I believe that will be the decisive factor in this game. I hope our fans support us in large numbers," said Juan.
Ticket sales
The full-back's wish is sure to be granted. By the end of yesterday afternoon, 20.778 tickets had been sold. The board expects at least 60 fans to flock to Maracanã to support the team.
Sales continue today, starting at 11 am, at the following points of sale: Gávea, General Severiano, Laranjeiras, Caio Martins (Niterói), Loja da Kappa (Barra), Rox Sports (Duque de Caxias) and RioSampa (Nova Iguaçu). Green and yellow stands cost R$20 (R$10 half-price), white stands R$25 (R$12), special seats R$100 (R$50) and regular seats R$15 (R$7).
Joel makes the team train with virtual Tricolor
Coach Joel Santana held his first training session with the match against São Paulo in mind, yesterday at Gávea. During the training session, he set up the reserve team in the same way the Tricolor Paulista has been operating—three center-backs, the wingers marking the full-backs, and a more open striker who drops back to collect the ball—and without stopping training, he repeatedly instructed the starting team, consisting of: Bruno, Léo Moura, Fábio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelim, and Juan; Rômulo, Jaílton, Cristian, and Ibson; Maxi and Souza.
The team adopted a defensive approach, but always exploited the flanks. The training session ended 0-0, but the coach seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed the session, especially the final part, when Roger came on for the rested Maxi.
Fan support
Flamengo's manager, Joel Santana, promised a Flamengo team looking for a goal, but warned the fans to be patient, as the game should involve a lot of studying from both teams at the start of the match.
"When I play at Maracanã, I go after them, but of course we can't let our guard down. When two champions face each other, it's always a carefully considered game. We're concerned because they always play well away from home, but I'm sure they'll be worried about us too," said Joel Santana, who took the opportunity to praise the fans' support for the team. "Our fans help us a lot," he stated.
Tomorrow's match against the league leaders is being treated as a decisive match, even though Flamengo is currently in 12th place. Coach Joel Santana said he expects a balanced match, but knows that to win, the team will have to play with grit and determination.
Juan with one eye on São Paulo and the other on the National Team
The full-backs have been extremely important for Flamengo in recent seasons, scoring 10 goals together in the Brasileirão. A key player in Joel's scheme, Juan dreams of being included in Dunga's future call-ups. To that end, the player points out how he can improve to wear the yellow jersey.
"Be more involved, get more involved in the attack, make fewer mistakes, improve your physicality and defense as well. There's always room for improvement," he said.
In their next match, Flamengo faces São Paulo, a team that practically already has the title in its sights. For Juan, playing on the wings could be a way to defeat the leaders.
"There are several ways this game can be decided. São Paulo has a good set piece and also a good play on the wings. It will be increasingly better to play on the wings and relieve the pressure in midfield," he explained.
Roger stands out in Fla's training session
Flamengo's training session on Tuesday, which will determine the team that will face São Paulo this Thursday at Maracanã, featured a player who started as a substitute: Roger. The midfielder has been out of the team since September 8th.
The player was part of a series of changes that Joel Santana made to the team, taking out Ibson, Maxi and Rômulo to bring in Roger, Leonardo and Leo Medeiros.
With precise throws, passes, dribbles and a beautiful individual play, which almost resulted in a goal.
Fla questions Vasco's partnership
Vasco's partnership with Brasília has already generated controversy. Flamengo has made it clear that it will oppose Vasco's association with the current Brazilian champion.
"All the clubs that partnered presented their plans in advance. Including Vasco itself, but with Saldanha da Gama. Now they make a last-minute decision and, in the middle of the championship, come up with the possibility of competing with another team," said basketball director Arnaldo Szpiro.
He went further and assured that Flamengo will take action.
"We will study what measures can be taken to prevent Vasco from messing up the competition like this," he added.
O Dia
Who takes the Cariocão?
Fla, Flu, Vasco and Botafogo are in a separate championship within the Brasileirão
Rio - Amid relegation battles and battles for spots in the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, the Brazilian Championship has become a distinct "Campeonato Carioca," featuring Fluminense, Botafogo, Vasco, and Flamengo. Just six points separate Fluminense, the best of the four, in sixth place with 43 points, from Flamengo, the worst-placed team in 12th place with 37 points, with a game in hand, just like Flamengo.
Fluminense, which has already secured a spot in the Libertadores Cup by winning the Copa do Brasil, will also face Flamengo in a local derby and will face Brasileirão leaders São Paulo. Fluminense has a 51% record in the league and, according to mathematician Tristão Garcia, only a 1% chance of being relegated.
Vasco, in eighth place (40 points) and third in the Rio de Janeiro championship, will face Flamengo to level with Fluminense and Botafogo. For the Tricolor and Alvinegro teams, there are 10 games remaining in the Brasileirão. Celso Roth's team hasn't won in six games in the competition, having earned only two of 18 points, and today they face Juventude.
Like Fluminense, the chance of relegation is 1%. A spot in the Libertadores Cup has a 13% chance of winning. "To reach the Libertadores, you have to win away from home," Celso Roth emphasized.
Botafogo, which began the competition talking about the title, has plummeted in the standings. And Mário Sérgio, who took over from Cuca, has adopted a stance that the team still needs to worry about relegation: according to Tristão Garcia, there's only a 1% chance of that happening. For a Libertadores berth, there's a 15% chance.
Flamengo, with a 46% record in the Brasileirão, has a tough streak, which begins tomorrow against São Paulo at the Maracanã and continues against Fluminense on Sunday. The Red-Blacks' trump card is the Maracanã. Under Joel Santana, in 10 games in Rio, the team won seven and drew three.
Tied up in points and objectives, the four put on a true Carioca Championship. Who will come out on top?
Flamengo: Who's afraid of the leader?
Joel Santana, on the other hand, considers it an added motivation to face São Paulo
Marluci Martins
Rio - Getting closer to the Copa Sudamericana qualifying zone would be motivation enough for any team. And Flamengo takes the field tomorrow with a renewed desire to win, as their opponent, leader São Paulo, will certainly take this year's Brazilian title.
"Beating the leader is always great. It motivates any team," said coach Joel Santana.
Even more so when their opponent, the title favorite, has suffered only three defeats in 28 league games. And, most importantly, because, playing away from home, São Paulo has lost only one match so far (to Náutico, at Aflitos).
"I don't care if they have a good record away from home. I just know that Flamengo usually plays very well here at Maracanã. And this time it can't be any different," said the coach, believing that playing at home will be a huge advantage for his team.
Even Joel doesn't know how far Flamengo can go. Unbeaten in four games, the Gávea team has 37 points and will already be fighting for a spot in the South American.
"We're going to climb step by step. We can't forget that our brother team (Botafogo) was leading the championship just a few months ago, and now what's happening is happening. There's no such thing as a prediction in a competition like the Brazilian Championship," Joel said evasively.
CONSUL VISIT
South Africa's consul in São Paulo, Modiba Isaac Choschane, was in Gávea yesterday to promote the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He received a Flamengo jersey as a gift, but declined to say which club he supports in Brazil.
“I love all Brazilian teams,” he said in English, assuring that he was not a spy for São Paulo coach Muricy Ramalho.
The path to victory runs along the sides
Íbson will be back in the Gávea squad tomorrow, replacing the suspended Toró; and Roger will have a spot on the bench. But for Juan, the path to victory over São Paulo will run through the wings.
"It's getting harder and harder to get through the middle. By freeing up the midfield, we can be more efficient in attack," said the full-back, who shares Flamengo's top scorer spot in the Brasileirão with Leonardo Moura, each with five goals.
Coach Joel Santana agrees with his left-back. He believes São Paulo will have to focus heavily on Juan and Leonardo Moura, who, both in excellent form, are Flamengo's main weapons.
"If I'm going to worry about Jorge Wagner, they'll also have to worry about Leonardo Moura and Juan. And there's no such thing as going all out. You have to go forward intelligently," Joel stated, assuring that his team will take the initiative in attack, undaunted by facing the leader, but also without losing its responsibility.
Roger trains well and has practically guaranteed his presence against São Paulo
Rio - Apparently, Flamengo fans have an excellent reason to turn out in force for the match against São Paulo this coming Thursday at the Maracanã. Supporter Roger participated in the entire training session on Tuesday and, alongside Ibson, has practically secured his place in the lineup for the match against the Brazilian Championship's undisputed leader.
However, he's only expected to play for a short time, as he hasn't played since September 8th, when Flamengo lost 3-0 to Internacional at Beira-Rio Stadium. Since then, Roger has been sidelined to regain his fitness.
On the field, Roger was the standout performer during the training session. Coach Joel Santana made three changes during the training session: Ibson, Rômulo, and Maxi were replaced by Léo Medeiros, Leonardo, and Roger. The midfielder drew attention with his dribbling, sprinting, and passing. After training, Joel and Roger spoke for approximately five minutes on the field.
"I've been planning to return since the game against Juventude, and unfortunately it wasn't possible. I had a good training session, I didn't push myself too hard, but on the other hand, I didn't feel any pain, so I hope the muscle doesn't let me down again and I can finally get back to playing. Being out is always very bad," said Roger.
Sports Gazette
Luxembourg's advisor denies the red-black proposal\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Earlier this week, a topic came up strongly at Flamengo: the report that some Flamengo executives had already approached coach Wanderley Luxemburgo with a proposal for him to return to Gávea in 2008. The issue was met with irritation by Joel Santana, who refused to comment on the matter. But on Tuesday, Luxemburgo's press officer, Luís Lombardi, denied any negotiations between the coach and Flamengo. "It's untrue and completely unfounded. Luxemburgo's intention is to renew his contract with Santos at the end of the year. He has great affection for Flamengo, and it would be a great honor to work for the club in the future, but right now, that doesn't exist. This is the work of malicious people who want to stir up trouble," Lombardi told Rádio Brasil.
Before Lombardi, Flamengo's own vice president of football, Kléber Leite, had already denied any offer to Luxemburgo. The Flamengo director confirmed his support for Joel Santana, who helped the team escape the relegation zone in the Brazilian Championship.
Ibson earns a spot in Flamengo's midfield\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Still threatened by relegation in 12th place in the Brazilian Championship, all Flamengo players know the importance of a victory over São Paulo in the match scheduled for this Thursday at Maracanã. To achieve this goal, they believe in the strength of the fans who promise to fill the Biggest Stadium in the World. "The Flamengo fans are always there to support us. We hope to play well on Thursday and, with their help, be able to achieve a good result," commented midfielder Cristian, who scored the winning goal against Atlético-MG last Saturday.
Coach Joel Santana is expected to select Ibson in midfield alongside Cristian, Rômulo, and Jailton, replacing the suspended Toró. He returns to the starting lineup after recovering from a right ankle injury.
"I've missed the last four games, and it's very sad not to be able to help my teammates on the field. But I hope to return now and help Flamengo get this victory against São Paulo," said Ibson.
Ibson is expected to win the battle with Roger, who has also been out of action. After spending about 15 days training only physically, the midfielder suffered a muscle injury last week and had to postpone his return for the match against São Paulo.
"I've been planning on returning since the Juventude game, but unfortunately, it wasn't possible. I had a good workout, didn't push myself too hard, but I didn't feel any pain, so I hope the muscle doesn't let me down again. Being out is always very bad," Roger emphasized.
Aware that he, like Ibson, still lacks match fitness, Roger acknowledges that fielding the two together could harm Flamengo in Thursday's match. "It's the right thing to do. We can't afford to play against the best team in the competition with two players coming off a long layoff."
This Wednesday, Flamengo will hold its last training session, but Joel Santana should confirm Flamengo with the following formation: Bruno; Leonardo Moura, Fábio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Rômulo, Jailton, Cristian and Ibson; Maximiliano Biancucchi and Souza.
To face the best defense in the Brazilian Championship, Joel Santana expects to be more accurate in his finishing. "What matters isn't the number of chances created, but the number of successful shots. We have to finish with quality," said Joel, who began the week emphasizing finishing training.
Roger trains well and Joel keeps it a secret\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - This Tuesday, just as he had the day before, midfielder Ibson started in Flamengo's training session. But during the training session, Roger was included in the team by coach Joel Santana and impressed with his strong performance. With this, the Flamengo coach once again raised doubts about who will start in Thursday's game against São Paulo at Maracanã. The decision will be made during Wednesday's training session. Roger's position is weighed down by the fact that he has already stated that he doesn't know if he can play the full 90 minutes. "The game isn't until Thursday, but the team should be the one that trained. But in football, anything can happen," the manager said evasively.
Meanwhile, Flamengo's board confirmed that 20.778 tickets had been sold by the end of Tuesday. The club's director of revenue, Flávio Pereira, denied that more than 30 tickets had been sold on the first day, as had been reported by some media outlets. "I don't know where that came from, but it certainly didn't come from Flamengo," he stated.
PeléNet
Flamengo 'uses its head' to try to beat the leader
Vinicius Barreto Souto\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Still threatened with relegation in this Brazilian Championship, Flamengo faces the competition's runaway leader next Thursday at Maracanã. Everyone in Gávea is expecting a very difficult match against São Paulo. Given this, the red-and-blacks are trying to find a way to defeat the reigning champion.
Midfielder Roger defined the duel against leaders São Paulo as a "game of strategy"
To achieve this, in addition to playing well, the team plans to "use its head" to beat its opponent, as the Tricolor team has a clear advantage with its feet. It has a 12-point lead over second-place Cruzeiro, boasts the tightest defense—with only nine goals conceded in 28 games—and is unbeaten in 18 matches in the competition.
"São Paulo is a team that really cooks up the game, especially away from home. They play on their opponent's mistakes, position themselves well in defense, force their opponents to attack, and counterattack. So, we need to be patient. It's going to be a strategic game. We have to be smart," analyzed midfielder Roger, who should be an option for the second half.
While the player pleads for patience, coach Joel Santana pursues a different strategy to try to disrupt São Paulo. When asked how Flamengo should play to beat the São Paulo team, the coach avoided answering to avoid giving the opponent any weapons.
"I don't want to talk too much about the opponent, nor do I want to get into tactics. The less I say, the better. I need peace of mind to see if I can pull off a surprise for their team," said Joel, admitting he's worried. "That's why the coach sleeps poorly or not at all. It's not easy going into this kind of game," he concluded.
Midfielder Ibson is confident of a good performance as a midfielder for Flamengo
Vinicius Barreto Souto\ In Rio de Janeiro\
After four games out due to injury, midfielder Ibson returns to the Flamengo squad for next Thursday's match against São Paulo at Maracanã in the Brazilian Championship. Upon his return to the team, the player will play out of his original position, having been selected by coach Joel Santana as a playmaker.
However, Ibson is confident of a strong performance as a midfielder. "I've played in that position before, so it won't be a problem. It won't change much. The important thing is to be on the field to help Flamengo," he commented.
Despite his confidence, Ibson will have to overcome a long period without playing as a midfielder. "I don't remember the last time I played in that position. I played that way in the youth teams. But Joel talked to me about how he wants me to play, getting more forward," said the midfielder, adding that he never played as a midfielder for Porto-POR, his last club.
Ibson hasn't played since the loss to Internacional on September 8th, when he sprained his right ankle. Because of this, the player admits he still doesn't know if he'll last the full 90 minutes. "I'm not 100%, but I've worked hard physically and I'll play as much as I can," he said.
Like Ibson, Roger has also not played since the match against Inter, as he was later removed by coach Joel Santana to regain his best physical shape.
Therefore, the midfielder will be an option on the bench, while the defensive midfielder will start against São Paulo in his teammate's position. This Tuesday, Ibson agreed with Roger, who, last Monday, stated that it would be risky for Flamengo to field two players who had not played in a long time against the league leader.
"Starting the match with both of them would be complicated indeed. Our team has been playing well and it would be annoying to take off two players to put in two others who were out," Ibson observed.
Fla hopes to set a new Brazilian attendance record
Vinicius Barreto Souto\ In Rio de Janeiro\
With the largest attendance in this Brazilian Championship, Flamengo could set a new record in next Thursday's match against São Paulo at the Maracanã. At least that's what the red-and-blacks are hoping for.
As of 18 p.m. this Tuesday alone, 20.778 tickets had already been sold in advance. The total number of tickets on sale is 79.994, and Flamengo's director of revenue, Flávio Pereira, expects the vast majority to be sold.
"I think we'll reach around 60 paying spectators. It will be a quality game and Flamengo is coming off a good result [a victory over Atlético-MG]. So, the fans will be following. And the fans are huge," he said.
So far, the record attendance for this Brazilian Championship was recorded at the Flamengo vs. Sport match at Maracanã on September 1st, in the 23rd round. This game had 51.552 paying spectators (with over 60 in attendance).
The expectation of a new record in the match against the league leader excites the players. "Our fans are also responsible for our good results at Maracanã. Their support makes our team stronger," commented left-back Juan, who was pleased to learn that more than 20 tickets have already been sold.
"It's great to know that the fans believe and trust in our team in this difficult game. But we have to go into it without being too excited to avoid being surprised," said the player.
Coach Joel Santana was also pleased with the expected record attendance against São Paulo. "At home, in front of our fans, we have a habit of playing well. Our fans do help us win games. They've been very supportive and will continue to be so," the coach stated.
Roger trains well, but may not be used at Flamengo
Vinicius Barreto Souto\ In Rio de Janeiro\
As expected, on Tuesday, coach Joel Santana confirmed the selection of defensive midfielder Ibson as Flamengo's playmaker for next Thursday's match against São Paulo at Maracanã in the Brazilian Championship. Midfielder Roger was tested as a starter in this afternoon's training session at Gávea and trained well. Despite this, he will remain on the bench, but he risks not being used during the match.
"Ibson trained well, he'll start playing and Roger will go with the group. When I put Roger [in the starting lineup] he came in well, uninhibited. But whether he'll come in or not [during the match], I still don't know," said Joel.
Since Ibson started the training session as a starter, Roger began his training with the reserves. Later, the coach replaced Ibson with midfielder Léo Medeiros, implying that the former Ipatinga player was his first choice to replace the player who had recently recovered from a right ankle injury. Only later was Roger tested with the first team.
When he entered the starting lineup, Roger tried to prove himself. He made some impressive plays, added some clever touches, and even drew applause from the Gávea fans at one point. But that didn't seem to be enough to change Joel Santana's mind.
So much so that the coach downplayed the fact that he fielded a defensive midfielder as the main creative midfielder instead of Roger. "Ibson is a quality player. He knows how to come from behind with the ball under control. He's very creative," Joel commented.
Last Monday, Roger expressed his resignation to being a reserve at Flamengo, but made no secret of his desire to come on in the second half. "If he [Joel] puts each of us on for 45 minutes, that's fine. But even if it's just me playing for 15 or 20 minutes, it will be enough for me to get back into the game and gain confidence," the midfielder said.
Both Roger and Ibson have not played since the 3-0 loss to Inter on September 8. While the midfielder was sidelined by Joel Santana to regain his best physical condition, the defensive midfielder suffered a sprained right ankle during the match and has only just returned to Flamengo.
The team that trained on Tuesday and will take the field on Thursday to face São Paulo was Bruno; Leonardo Moura, Fábio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelim, and Juan; Rômulo, Jaílton, Cristian, and Ibson; and Maxi and Souza. "The team that plays should be the one that trained," Joel concluded.
Kleberson starts training
The big news in Tuesday's training session at Flamengo was the presence of midfielder Kleberson.
The player, world champion with the Brazilian national team in the 2002 World Cup, worked at the club for the first time this afternoon.
The reinforcement, signed last week, but who will only be able to debut from February 1, 2008 due to a four-month suspension imposed by FIFA, only ran around the Gávea pitch.
BalloonSport
Fla makes 'Tropa' forget piracy
José Padilha, director of the film 'Tropa de Elite', is moved by the fans' screams at the Maracanã
Because of Flamengo, filmmaker José Padilha, a die-hard Flamengo fan and grandson of a former club president, had at least one moment of joy in the controversy surrounding the piracy of his film "Elite Squad," which had already caused him many headaches. During a Flamengo game at the Maracanã stadium, some fans imitated characters from the film in the stands, which left the director emotional.
"Although I'm against piracy, I'm a Flamengo fan first and foremost. I was at home and a friend called me from Maracanã after Souza missed a penalty to say the fans were chanting "Zero one, ask to leave!", which is one of the lines from the film. There were about 40 people. It moved me," Padilha said in an interview with Jô Soares on Monday night (watch the video below).
"Elite Squad" is one of the most anticipated Brazilian film releases of 2007. The film has already been screened at the Rio Film Festival and will be released nationwide on October 12th (watch the official trailer in the video below). The film will premiere in Rio and São Paulo next Friday. However, long before that, it was already being sold by street vendors in Rio de Janeiro. A copy of the film was stolen and pirated.
José Padilha is the grandson of José Bastos Padilha, former president of Flamengo responsible for starting the construction of the Gávea stadium, which bears his name, in 1933. Furthermore, the filmmaker is the godson of journalist Mário Filho, brother of Nelson Rodrigues (illustrious Fluminense fan) and who named Maracanã.
"Mário Filho said he didn't have a team, but it was Flamengo. My whole family knows that," he revealed.
Upon learning that Fluminense's board had shown a pirated copy of "Tropa de Elite" to the players during the training camp, the director joked with a piracy expert present on "Programa do Jô":
- I wanted to know if they could return to the Second Division because of this.
Fla probes Thiago Neves, from Flu
The club is seeking information from a businessman to try to sign the Tricolor midfielder.
Marcio Iannacca
Thiago Neves has not yet renewed his contract with Fluminense
Flamengo's board of directors has approached the agent of Fluminense midfielder Thiago Neves. A manager from the football department contacted him to inquire about the possibility of signing the player in 2008. However, the player is expected to leave Tricolor das Laranjeiras to play in Japanese football.
Vice president of football Kléber Leite is leading the negotiations. However, he refuses to discuss the matter before the end of the Brazilian Championship. The player's rights belong to agents Leo Rabello (62%) and Luiz Alberto (38%). The Tricolor midfielder is dissatisfied with the treatment he received at Fluminense and intends to leave the club.
Flamengo is already moving to strengthen its squad for next season. Last week, the board signed midfielder Kléberson, formerly of Atlético-PR and the Brazilian national team. The player is not yet working at Gávea.
Juan: 'São Paulo doesn't scare me'
Full-back praises rival and says fan support will be essential to help Flamengo
Marcio Iannacca
Juan is not afraid to face São Paulo
São Paulo is currently leading the league and is unlikely to fail to win its fifth Brasileirão title. With 63 points in the standings and the tightest defense in the competition, conceding only nine goals, the Tricolor doesn't scare left-back Juan. For him, the match will be decided by the details.
"São Paulo isn't scary. They're a great team, the game will be tough, but it doesn't scare me. We can't make any mistakes. São Paulo is the team to beat in the championship, and a win will be great for our morale," says the Flamengo fullback.
Juan hopes the red-and-black fans will turn out in force at Maracanã Stadium. For the player, their support will be crucial for the team to secure another victory on home soil.
"The fans are important and are part of Flamengo's recovery in the Brazilian Championship. They are giving our team confidence," says Juan.
South African Consul visits Fla
The director says he is a Rubro-Negro fan and admits to forming a partnership with the Gávea club.
Marcio Iannacca
Modiba Isaac Choshane, South African Consul, receives a Flamengo shirt as a gift
South Africa's consul in São Paulo, Modiba Isaac Choshane, was in Gávea this Tuesday to watch Flamengo's training session. Accompanied by the club's vice president of marketing, Ricardo Hinrichesen Jr., he admits to potentially partnering with the Rio de Janeiro club in the future.
Modiba lives in São Paulo and says he supports Flamengo because of Zico. Encouraged by this, Flamengo's directors revealed that they intend to negotiate to have a team in the local league.
"Let's talk. Who knows, maybe we can establish a partnership. We have teams named Flamengo in England. Why can't we have a team named Flamengo in South Africa?" says vice president of marketing Ricardo Hinrichsen Jr.
The visit is also due to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The consul's plan is to exchange experiences with Brazilian club officials and professionals and, in the future, share them with his country.
Roger trains well in attack
Midfielder takes Maxi's place and delivers in Tuesday's activity
Marcio Iannacca
Roger talks to Joel during training
Midfielder Roger will be on the bench for Thursday's match against São Paulo at Maracanã. That's a fact. In the training session at Gávea on Tuesday, the player showed he was in good physical shape and participated well in the training session led by Joel Santana. However, he will play in attack alongside Souza.
Roger came in for Maxi and showed aplomb. He delivered excellent passes and didn't suffer from the muscle problem that plagued him last week. However, he knows he's not fit to play the full 90 minutes and will remain as Joel's option for the final stage.
"I'm available to the coach if he wants to use me. The training went well and I didn't feel any pain," says Roger.
Joel Santana liked what he saw. The coach believes the decision to use Roger will be used during the match against São Paulo on Thursday.
"I liked what I saw. It's a shame I had to end the training session so quickly. I wish I could have worked another five or ten minutes to confirm the team's good performance," says the red-and-black coach.
Joel: 'Beating the leader is always good'
Coach says team is ready to beat the best team in the competition
Marcio Iannacca
Joel shows on the clipboard what the athletes should do in the game against São Paulo
Coach Joel Santana dreams of a victory in Thursday's match against São Paulo at the Maracanã. For the red-and-black coach, a victory against the Brasileirão leader would give the team a boost, as it fights for a spot in the Copa Sudamericana.
"It's an added motivator to beat the championship leader. Plus, the fans can also help us," says Joel Santana.
Despite the hope of winning a victory over São Paulo, Joel knows that Flamengo needs a victory to further distance itself from the relegation zone of the Brazilian Championship.
"Our team is in the South American zone, but could be eliminated if they lose. We can't afford to make any mistakes because we're close to the teams fighting relegation," the red-and-black coach assesses.
Kléberson does bodybuilding in Gávea
Signed for 2008, Flamengo midfielder keeps fit while unable to play
Kléberson watched the training session before the game against Atlético-MG and brought Flamengo luck
Midfielder Kléberson, Flamengo's new signing for 2008, went to Gávea this Tuesday and has already put on his training gear.
The player participated in the conversation between coach Joel Santana and the entire red-black squad and also did weight training.
Last week, Kléberson visited the training session to support the players who would face Atlético-MG on Saturday. The support paid off, and Flamengo won 1-0.
Parma and Bayern send scouts to Maraca
Fla receives requests from European clubs, who are interested in athletes from Fla and SP
Marcio Iannacca
Dagoberto can be observed by Europeans during the game against Flamengo
São Paulo and Flamengo need to keep an eye on the situation so they don't lose players next season. Scouts from Parma, Italy, and Bayern Munich, Germany, will be at the Maracanã on Thursday to watch the match between the two teams. The Europeans are keeping an eye on players like Juan and Leo Moura, from the Gávea team, and Dagoberto and Leandro, from Tricolor.
The information was confirmed by Flamengo's vice president of marketing, Ricardo Hinrichsen Jr., who received the request from the European clubs. As the home team, Flamengo provided two tickets to each club.
"They shouldn't come to Brazil for tourism. Observers should analyze the performance of some players in this match," says Ricardo.
'Times have changed,' says Zico
Idol thinks players would have difficulty adapting to the mansion
Eduardo Peixoto and Bruno Neves
During Zico's time, the Fadel Fadel mansion was Flamengo's training ground. Zico is wary of Flamengo's idea of returning to the Fadel Fadel mansion in São Conrado. Flamengo's greatest idol remembers the significant changes between the players' behavior in the 80s and now.
"The place was excellent. It had a movie theater, a good cafeteria, a beautiful pool table, and a great TV room. But times have changed," the former player says via email.
Check out the exclusive photo gallery of the mansion. The main problem is the distribution of the rooms. In Zico's time, there were four or five players in each room. Now, some players stay alone or, at most, in pairs. This is typical in five-star hotels.
"The room I stayed in was called Maracanã, because there was always room for one more. Today, with internet, cell phones, and privacy, players have become accustomed to being alone, or at most with one other person. Understanding and respect are essential," Zico says.
Flamengo is considering returning to its São Conrado mansion to avoid the high hotel rates and invest the money saved in completing its Training Center in Vargem Grande.
Fans still go to São Conrado to support Fla
The mansion hasn't hosted the professionals for years, but the red-blacks look for their idols there.
Eduardo Peixoto and Thiago Dias
Flamengo's board hopes to return the team to the mansion in 2008. Back when Zico and company were shining for Flamengo, Jaime Silvado Street in São Conrado became a meeting place for Flamengo fans. On game days, fans would flock to the spot to catch a glimpse of the stars at the Fadel Fadel mansion, which served as the team's training ground for years. To this day, even though the venue is no longer used by the professionals, fans still seek out the house in an attempt to meet their idols.
"Every now and then someone comes by asking if the players are here. Some even ask for Flamengo shirts," says security guard Zé Carlos, who has worked at Flamengo for five years and is one of the people responsible for looking after the mansion.
Starting in 2008, the professional red-and-black team will once again be concentrated in the São Conrado mansion. Fans will flock to the mansion to get autographs and interact with the athletes, too. Especially children, since the Carolina Patrício School is located next door. More work is on the horizon for street security guard Fernando Assis.
"We'll be paying extra attention. As the number of cars around here is expected to increase, a lot of parking attendants will also show up, looking to make a little money," he says.
According to Zé Carlos and Fernando, the mansion's neighbors often ask if Flamengo will use the house as a training ground again. Over the past three months, the space has been renovated and used for an architecture exhibition. Now, it has been returned to the club, which hopes to use it again starting in 2008. Fans can only hope it brings the same luck it once did to Zico's generation.
"It would be good, wouldn't it? They'd win everything!" recalls the watchman Fernando, a die-hard Flamengo fan who will be watching Flamengo's return to São Conrado from the best seats in the house.
For Adílio, concentration unites the team
Accustomed to staying in São Conrado, the former player fondly remembers the Fla mansion
Eduardo Peixoto and Thiago Dias
During Adílio's time, the training ground even featured a show by singer Jorge Ben. Several generations of Flamengo fans passed through the Fadel Fadel mansion in São Conrado, which opened in the 60s. But the mansion was never as busy as it was in the 80s, when the 1981 World Cup-winning team would gather there before matches.
"It's really good there. We'd play cards, pool, and even watch movies at the cinema. People would come in with those giant rolls of film, and it would turn into a party," says Adílio, a former player at the club and current coach of the youth team.
Besides Zico's generation, teams featuring names like Doval, Renato Gaúcho, Bebeto, and Romário also stayed at the mansion, located on Jaime Silvado Street. Even the Brazilian national team, with Pelé, stayed there in the 60s.
After the club began using hotels as its training grounds, young players from the youth teams lived there. Midfielder Jônatas, now with Espanyol, defender Rodrigo Arroz, and forward Fabiano Oliveira were among those who shared rooms at São Conrado.
During its golden age, the concentration camp frequently received visits from famous red-black fans, as Adílio recounts:
- Sometimes there would be a Jorge Ben or Pepeu Gomes jam... I'd also play around, doing a James Brown dance (laughs). It was very lively - recalls the former player.
For Adílio, the mansion's atmosphere is conducive to bringing the players closer together. There are only ten bedrooms, which means they'll have to sleep in different ways. In hotels, athletes usually stay in pairs.
- People even arrived early to have a little pastry before dinner – jokes the youth coach, without wanting to give an opinion on whether it is better or worse to change the professional team's concentration in 2008: - I'm just talking about my time.
Throw
Roger enters the middle of training and stands out
Joel makes three changes and the midfielder ends his activity among the starters
Roger performed beautiful dribbles and made a spectacular individual play (Credit: Gilvan de Souza)
LANCEPRESS!\ After starting collective training this Tuesday with Ibson in the starting lineup, coach Joel Santana made three changes halfway through the activity.\
Ibson, Rômulo, and Maxi gave way to Léo Medeiros, Leonardo, and Roger. The latter was the standout performer of the training session with excellent passes, beautiful dribbles, and a spectacular individual play that nearly resulted in a goal.
After 50 minutes of play, the starters and reserves drew 0-0. Remembering that the reserves played with three defenders to remind us of how São Paulo (Thursday's opponent) plays.
As soon as the activity ended, Roger and Joel Santana talked for about five minutes, showing that the player can be used against the Brazilian leader
Ibson begins training among the starters
The midfielder is expected to return to the team against São Paulo after four matches away.
Ibson could return to the team after four games out (Credit: Ricardo Cassiano)
LANCEPRESS!
Coach Joel Santana is currently leading a collective training session and the big news is the presence of Ibson in the starting team.
The midfielder, who hasn't played a game since September 8, is expected to return to the team against São Paulo next Thursday.
The reserve team trained in the same way as Thursday's opponent, with three defenders: Thiago Sales, Rodrigo Arroz, and Marlon. Roger is also among the reserves.
Juan shows the shortcuts to beat São Paulo
For the home team, Flamengo will have to explore the sides of the field
LANCEPRESS!\ Having come up through the ranks of São Paulo's youth academy, left-back Juan commented on the difficulties Flamengo will face on Thursday, but gave some tips on how to beat the Brazilian Championship leader.\
radio l! - We have to attack from the wings, always with intelligence. We're playing more and more from the wings because it's getting more difficult in the middle. We also have to be careful with set pieces - he emphasized. (Click and listen to Juan)
The fact that Flamengo is playing at Maracanã excites Juan, who believes in the power of the fans to win.
"With our fans there, São Paulo doesn't scare me. If we win, we'll have renewed energy for the rest of the championship. Flamengo is strong at home. You can't fear São Paulo," he concluded.
Joel has yet to lose at Maraca with Fla this year
As usual, the coach has not yet defined the team for Thursday.
LANCEPRESS!\ Flamengo faces leaders São Paulo this Thursday at Maracanã, and Joel Santana hopes to maintain the good performance he has had at the stadium in this Brasileirão - since taking over the team, he has not yet lost there.\
To continue with this good performance, Joel continues to keep the lineup of the red-black team a secret, which in training this Tuesday had Ibson in the starting team and Roger in the reserve team.
"Isn't the match on Thursday? This could be the team, but I might change my mind by then," the coach told Rádio Tupi.
Check out Joel's performance in charge of Flamengo this year at Maracanã
11/08 - Flamengo 2 x 1 Nautico\ 16/08 - Fluminense 0 x 1 Flamengo\ 23/08 - Flamengo 4 x 0 Juventude\ 26/08 - Flamengo 3 x 1 Goiás\ 29/08 - Botafogo 1 x 1 Flamengo\ 01/09 - Flamengo 1 x 1 Sport\ 05/09 - Flamengo 4 x 1 Figueirense\ 12/09 - Flamengo 3 x 1 Cruzeiro\ 16/09 - Flamengo 1 x 1 Vasco\ 29/09 - Flamengo 1 x 0 Atlético-MG\