The Globe
Joel: 'The situation is horrific'
Flamengo coach fires in all directions and announces 'inventions' against Figueirense
Márcio Tavares
Angry, dissatisfied, and... making things up. Shaken by Flamengo's return to the relegation zone, coach Joel Santana took up his machine gun and fired. He lashed out at Roger, Souza, and the players in general, saying the team was emotionally unbalanced. And, shooting himself in the foot, he declared that Flamengo was in a terrible situation.
In a nearly uncontrollable outburst, he even got the logic right. Although he knows tomorrow's game against Figueirense is high-stakes and the pressure on the team will be immense, he decided to take a risk. And also to invent. Without Juan, who is suspended, he must improvise with supporter Léo Medeiros at left back.
To replace Roger, who is also suspended, he moves back Renato Augusto. Up front, unsure if Maxi will return, Joel appears inclined to field Leonardo, who hasn't played in a while and seemed to be out of his plans, as a partner for Obina, who isn't playing at all. By fielding this duo, he leaves out the promising youngsters Paulo Sérgio and Kayke, on whom the club has been banking heavily.
To replace Fábio Luciano, another player serving an automatic suspension, Rodrigo Arroz is expected to partner Thiago Sales at center back, as Angelim remains injured. These options, however, could change because, at Joel's Flamengo, anything is possible these days.
"I'm angry. We're in this situation because of us. Against Botafogo, we had the game in our hands and missed the penalty. We lacked skill (sic). Against Sport, we can't concede a penalty from a defender's play. Do you think the fans are satisfied, the board is satisfied, or I'm satisfied? If we had won on Saturday, we would have moved away from the relegation zone."
What irritates Joel most is the fact that Flamengo, in his view, hasn't learned the lesson of relegation. At the same time, he says he could fix it if he had time, but he confesses his impotence.
"The team is emotionally unbalanced. I'm living in the hotel and concentrating at home. If I had the time, I'd have the team train for two hours a day until they learn. But it's game after game...
Another detail that irritates the coach: the lack of commitment from some players to the cause. These are yellow cards and expulsions that, in Joel's view, could have been avoided. The main target of criticism is Roger, who played in seven of ten games.
- Roger is mature enough not to receive so many cards. A game card is a game card, a silly card is not a game card...
Realizing he was getting heated, Joel tried to tone down his speech. But he soon returned to his furious tone.
"It's a bitter Monday. The situation is horrible, but the more you talk, the more you slip, the deeper you fall. The tone can't be any more gentle because I'd be telling lies if I said everything was fine. I'd be making up fairy tales or telling stories about Tio Janjão (a popular radio show in Rio in the 50s). It had everything to be a joyful Sunday, but I had to stay home. The situation doesn't allow for being out and about," said Joel.
Coach is harsh in dismissing Egídio
With the players, Joel's tone was more measured. He gathered the group at the center of the field and spoke at length. But his speech didn't alarm even those who know they might be in trouble tomorrow.
"I'm ready. I'm not a full-back, but I've played in that position and I know what I can do. I'm calm because of the confidence Joel has in me," said Léo Medeiros.
Joel's choice was surprising. Overlooked by the coach, Egídio, a homegrown talent, was on loan to Paraná until the end of the year, where he was the starter. Flamengo snapped him up to be Juan's backup, but as of yesterday, it became clear that Joel is unlikely to play again. When making his choice, the coach was very clear.
- I need a quality and experienced player there...
Fla and Flu agree on 'loyalty' program with Maracanã
Tomorrow, clubs will sign an agreement with Suderj to play at the stadium
Marcos Penido
One of Rio de Janeiro's most iconic landmarks, Maracanã Stadium, will become the main venue for Flamengo and Fluminense matches starting tomorrow at 10 a.m., when the two clubs will sign a loyalty agreement with Suderj (Rio de Janeiro State Sports Federation). Under the agreement, hammered out by Sports Secretary Eduardo Paes, the clubs commit to playing 70% of their home games at the stadium, paying a symbolic fee of R$5 (the maximum fee was R$40) and keeping all match revenue.
Clubs are already thinking about the future of Maracanã
According to Eduardo Paes, just like Maracanã, both clubs benefit from the agreement.
"Flamengo and Fluminense are clubs with large fan bases. In stadium management, we make money from the sale of game signs, box seats, and also from services that involve the public, such as food sales," explains Eduardo Paes. "The loyalty agreement is beneficial for all parties, as the clubs will receive virtually all of the proceeds from the event for their own coffers."
For Fluminense president Roberto Horcades, this is the first step toward the club quickly acquiring its own stadium. The second will be the bidding process, through Suderj, for the lease of Maracanã.
"Fluminense is interested in this bid to have our stadium. We can enter it together with Flamengo or, if the red-and-black club isn't interested, alone. The important thing is the step being taken now. We will have a stadium named after Mário Filho, a red-and-black club, and we will pay tribute to his brother, Nelson Rodrigues, a great playwright and journalist for the club," Horcades states.
Flamengo president Márcio Braga says the club is satisfied with the agreement to be signed tomorrow, but wants to learn more details about the bidding process to see if it's of interest to the club, as it has its own project to revitalize the Gávea stadium. Márcio made it clear that if the Maracanã interests the club, he will not participate in the bidding process alongside the club.
Brazil dreams of Beijing
The men's team finished 9th on the first day of the World Championships. Diego finished second on floor exercise.
Photo caption: DIEGO DOES an exercise from the floor series: Brazilian is the second of the day on the apparatus
STUTTGART, Germany
As expected, Diego Hypólito was the standout performer for the Brazilian men's gymnastics team, which debuted yesterday at the World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. With a score of 16.050, the second-highest on the floor exercise among the 129 athletes who competed, Diego is expected to qualify for the apparatus final on Saturday. The first was China's Kai Zou (16.275).
The São Paulo native finished in 16th place and remains in contention for a spot in Friday's individual all-around final, where the top 24 qualify. Theoretically, Victor Rosa also has a chance, having finished 22nd. Also competing were Arthur Zanetti (112th), Luis Augustos dos Anjos (31st), Danilo Nogueira (99th) and Mosiah Rodrigues (83rd), who, at the 2004 Athens Olympics, finished 33rd overall, becoming the Brazilian with the best performance in the Games to date.
Diego fails and is out of the vault final
Champion in 2005 and runner-up in 2006, Diego has everything he needs to return to the top step of the podium on floor exercise. Without his main rivals, the reigning Olympic champion, Canadian Kyle Shewfelt, who broke both legs during training; and Romanian Marian Dragulescu, the reigning world champion, who has a back injury, the path, at least in theory, is clear for the Brazilian. Yesterday, according to him, he didn't have his best series.
"My floor performance was good, but I didn't make the main series. My goal was to get a high score in the qualifiers to make it to the final. But I still need to correct some mistakes and make changes to improve my performance score," analyzed the gymnast, who hadn't counted on Zou Kai's strong performance. "I confess I was surprised by the Chinese gymnast's score, as he had the best score of the day on floor."
On the other apparatus, Diego did only reasonably well: 13.625 (pommel horse); 13.950 (rings); 14.250 (parallel bars) and 13.925 (high bar). On the vault, his second specialty, and an event in which he also expected to compete for a medal, he disappointed.
"I was dissatisfied with my performance on the vault, one of my specialties. On the first, I veered off course and ended up stepping on the cushion line, earning a score of 15.750. On the second, I made a mistake on the run and had to change my vault movement. This caused my score to drop significantly, and I only earned 12.725 points. Unfortunately, I won't be able to reach the final on this apparatus," he explained. "The other events helped me earn points for the individual all-around final, where the top 24 will qualify."
If Diego qualifies for the individual all-around, he will be the second member of the delegation to achieve this feat. The first was Jade Barbosa, who will also compete in the vault and balance beam finals.
Overall, Brazil is in 9th place with 351.550 points, and China leads (374.275), but the qualifying round isn't over. Today, strong teams like the United States, Canada, and Romania are competing. A top-12 finish will secure the unprecedented qualification of the entire team for the Olympic Games. But unlike the women's competition, which has already secured a spot in Beijing, the men's competition is more difficult. So much so that the gymnasts themselves, like Diego Hypólito, consider it a great result if Brazil finishes in the top 15, guaranteeing two Brazilian athletes at the Olympics.
"Since other powerhouses will be competing tomorrow (today), it's very likely that we'll drop a few positions. But if we can get at least two athletes to the Olympics, it will be a historic achievement for Brazilian men's gymnastics," the athlete stated.
The finals begin tomorrow at 9 a.m. (Brasília time) with the women's team title being decided. Brazil, who placed eighth in the qualifying round and qualified for the Beijing Olympics, is in contention.
TRANSMISSION: Bandeirantes Network
Ancelmo Gois
Free-flowing
At the Maracanã's attendance record on Saturday, Suderj transparently reported the number of paying and non-paying spectators.
Despite the effort, it's surprising that of the 61.208 attendees, no fewer than 9.656 (almost 16%) got in free. This must be a world record for gatecrashers. No amount of moralizing will work.
Fernando Calazans
Fla Wonder
Joel Santana ranted at Gávea. And rightly so. The Flamengo stronghold is the best place for Joel to rant at his players, better than the stadiums, where he's been showing a lot of nervousness. There are several reasons to explain the coach's irritation, but the ideal place isn't a public place, but the intimacy of Flamengo's headquarters. So I repeat: absolutely right.
Flamengo is a very special club, inside and out.
Inside, there's a festive atmosphere, a certain self-sufficiency, a certain pride—all of this has been around for a long time—that transforms promising young players into established stars, that is, internally established stars. This may be a consequence of the Zico Generation, which was truly a star, but, for that reason, has yet to be replicated.
Outside, there's a beautiful and seductive landscape. Without exaggeration, one of the most beautiful in Rio. The Lagoon, Gávea, Leblon, the beach, the ocean, the day... the night... any time of day or night. Now tell me, what other Rio soccer club boasts such a paradisiacal setting?
In this regard, the youth academy players, the so-called homegrown talent, are no longer as prominent. The surrounding area dazzles players from outside the club.
But both, those at home and those from outside, are bewitched by this atmosphere (internal and external) that leads them to imagine that they are in a kind of holiday camp, a resort or, finally, on the Island of Caras itself.
From there to the flip-flop philosophy is a short step. Even better, all of this always had the approval of club and soccer officials, supervisors, and everything else, all enchanted by Rio's landscape and sunny, festive atmosphere.
The Zico Generation was more enlightened, more professional, and played much better football. It was by bringing together such talented minds and feet, in the same place and at the same time, that Flamengo won everything, even the Club World Cup.
When the feet and heads are not so privileged (far from it), it ends up like this: for years, monotonously and repetitively, the happy and festive club has been fighting to avoid becoming a Second Division club.
"Ah, Flamengo is Flamengo...! The shirt wins on its own...! The fans play for the whole team...! Flamengo doesn't get relegated...!"
Look, one day the house will fall down. That's why Joel is so nervous. He was recruited to keep Flamengo from falling.
And he loses players all the time: injuries, suspensions... Suspensions, not to mention.
Ah, a whole round off in the Marvelous City of the Flamengo Regatta Club...!
Sports Journal
Joel: 'Flamengo's situation is horrible'
Joel has three certain absences for the game against Figueira: Roger, Juan and Fábio Luciano
The victory over Goiás on August 26th brought joy back to the Flamengo fans. The result kept Flamengo out of the relegation zone, but the celebrations were short-lived. In the next match, Mengão had everything it needed to come away with all three points, against Botafogo, but Souza missed the penalty that could have sealed the victory. In the final match, against Sport, the team from Gávea faltered again and, in front of 60 fans who packed the Maracanã, conceded a draw to the Pernambuco team.
Coach Joel Santana spoke out about the mistakes made by the team in Saturday's match against Leão and in the classic against Botafogo last Wednesday.
"These two results were horrible. The blame is entirely on us. We lacked competence. Not just me, but I believe everyone is upset. The players, the board, and especially the fans who go to the games," the club's manager told Rádio Tupi.
The coach gave a forceful analysis of the team's current situation in the championship and gave the recipe for the team to once again assert its home advantage and give a gift to the immense red-black nation.
"Horrible. This is Flamengo's situation. In a competition like the Brazilian Championship, you can't miss an opportunity to kill the game. We took the lead in these two matches and let our opponents draw. We could have 30 points," complained Joel.
Losses at Fla
Joel Santana will have a lot of trouble getting his team ready for Wednesday's match against Figueirense at Maracanã. Roger, Juan, and Fábio Luciano received their third yellow cards and are suspended. Ronaldo Angelim, with pain in his right foot, and Maxi Biancucchi, with a strained left thigh, could miss Flamengo again.
Joel Santana releases the animals in Gávea
Angry with Flamengo's poor campaign in the Brazilian Championship, the coach scolds the team
Nathan de Souza and Thiago Bokel
Normally good-natured, Joel lost his cool after the team drew with Sport and returned to the relegation zone of the Brazilian Championship.
It was predictable that coach Joel Santana's reaction to learning that Flamengo had returned to the relegation zone wouldn't be the best. What the players hadn't imagined was that the lull that had hung over Gávea last week, following their rise in the standings, would end after the draw with Sport.
Deeply irritated, Joel unleashed another of his bombastic expressions, even getting one for 'Uncle Janjão.' Before training yesterday morning at Gávea, Joel spoke for about 30 minutes with the players on the field. The topic was Saturday's poor performance and the team's lack of maturity to manage a positive result. In the last two matches, Flamengo had the lead and allowed their opponents (Botafogo and Sport) to draw.
Vent
"Our campaign is terrible, and that's why there's no other way to talk to the players other than shouting at them. There's no point in coming up with 'Uncle Janjão stories,' because that doesn't fly with me. I was really annoyed because just when I thought we'd learned our lesson, they (the players) pull this on me? We messed up in the last two games and are back in the relegation zone. Awarding a penalty on a Sport defender is a joke," the coach vented.
The reason for Joel's irritation is his lack of attention. Showing the emotional turmoil of a team seemingly on the brink of relegation, Flamengo has been suffering from numerous absences in recent matches due to yellow cards. One of the red-and-black manager's main targets was midfielder Roger, who has been suspended three times since his arrival, once for expulsion and twice for receiving three yellow cards.
"Roger is almost 30 years old, and he's mature enough to know how to proceed on the field. Of course, there are necessary cards, but there are also silly ones that are really hurting us. It's not an excuse for us returning to the bottom four, but yesterday (Sunday), I didn't leave the house to avoid hearing unpleasant things on the street," the coach said.
Puzzle
In addition to the absences of Roger, Juan, Fábio Luciano, and Souza, all suspended, Joel is also expected to be without Argentine Maxi Biancucci and defender Ronaldo Angelim, who are still nursing injuries that forced them to miss the team's last match. As a result, the coach will have to rack his brains to get his team ready for the match against Figueirense. But first, he needs to calm down.
At Fla, Léo Medeiros trains on the left side
Point guard Ibson shares a play with Juan. The point guard faces Figueirense, but the full-back is suspended and will miss Flamengo's match tomorrow.
Back in the dreaded relegation zone, coach Joel Santana is looking for replacements for Flamengo's absences for tomorrow's match against Figueirense at Maracanã. Without Juan, Fábio Luciano, and Roger suspended, and with Maxi practically out due to a left thigh injury, the coach is banking on one of the few remaining players from the "pão-de-queijo" (cheese bread) policy, Léo Medeiros, to pull Flamengo back from the brink. In yesterday's training session, Joel Santana fielded the midfielder at left back and surprised everyone, as with Juan suspended, the natural replacement for that position would be the young prospect Egídio.
"I don't have to keep explaining. We have Léo Medeiros and the other boy (Egídio). Léo is a creative player and trained well," said Joel Santana.
Léo Medeiros has always been heavily criticized by Flamengo fans, who even called for him to leave. But he gradually gained his place and secured a new contract with the club. The former Ipatinga player said he won't face any difficulties if he takes on a new role.
"I don't see a problem. I often switched positions with Juan so he had more freedom. Besides, at Ipatinga, I played on the wing and did well," said Léo.
Renato Augusto's drama at Fla
Much criticized for his sharp drop in performance since returning from the U-20 World Cup in Canada, supporter Renato Augusto declined to give interviews after yesterday's training session at Gávea. The player is quite dejected by his poor performances and the constant booing from the fans, something unprecedented in his career. This afternoon, through his press office, Renato decided to speak about his difficult moment.
"I've been in the stands and I know the demands here are constant, especially when the team is fighting relegation. Fans pay for tickets and have every right to demand them. That's why I won't be shaken," said the supporter.
Renato Augusto's case is being treated with great care by coach Joel Santana, who has been constantly talking to him to understand the reasons for his poor form.
"Joel has been very reassuring, telling me I'm still young. Sometimes I forget I became a starter last year and that this is the first time I've been involved with the team during such a difficult time. But I'm confident that I just need time to get back to my best performance," Renato said.
Colace: uncertainty
The saga surrounding the signing of defensive midfielder Hugo Colace drags on for another day at Gávea. Yesterday, the club's executives were hoping for the release of Newell's Old Boys, which holds half of the player's federation rights, but the final chapter in this plot, which has dragged on for almost a week, appears to have been postponed until today.
Vice-president of football Kleber Leite remains confident in signing the Argentine.
"The situation is still undefined. It was postponed until tomorrow (today), due to some bureaucratic issues. I'm optimistic about the course of the negotiations, especially because the player wants to come and play here," he said.
Gymnastics in a complicated situation
The men's team isn't doing well at the World Cup and could miss Beijing. But Diego stands out.
Gymnast Diego Hypólito said he wasn't happy with his performance yesterday, especially on vault, one of his specialties and where he won gold at the Pan American Games.
Stuttgart, Germany — After a strong performance by the women's Artistic Gymnastics team at the Stuttgart World Championships, yesterday it was the men's turn to begin the competition. The group led by Diego Hypólito scored 351.550 points and finished the day in ninth place. Now they will have to hope against their rivals who will perform today, as only the top twelve teams qualify for Beijing.
The Brazilian team's standout performer was Diego. The Rio native performed exceptionally well on the floor exercise, receiving a score of 16,050. This result placed him second on the apparatus and, consequently, in contention for the gold medal. His performance placed him 12th overall. His compatriot, Victor Rosa, scored 15,275 and is in 17th place. Only the top 24 finishers qualify for the individual final.
On the ground, despite not having two of his main rivals (Romanian Marian Dragulescu and Canadian Kyle Shewfelt, both injured), Hypólito came up against Chinese Zou Kai.
"I confess that I was surprised by the score of the Chinese Zou Kai, who had the best score of the day on the floor (16,275)."
The Brazilian didn't do so well on the vault, however. He seemed quite disappointed with his mistakes.
"I was unhappy with my performance on the vault, one of my specialties. On the first, I veered off course and ended up stepping on the mattress line, which left me with a score of 15,750. On the second, I made a mistake on the run and had to change my vault movement. This caused my score to drop significantly, and I only got 12,725 points. Unfortunately, I'm not expected to make the final on this apparatus," said the gymnast.
Gymnasts will have to dry their opponents
Today, Brazilians simply watch their rivals' performances and hope they don't drop more than three places in the rankings. If they finish in the top 15, the country will be entitled to take two gymnasts to Beijing. If that happens, it will be quite an achievement. There has never been more than one Brazilian gymnast in the Olympic Games.
In Athens 2004, only Mosiah Rodrigues competed in the Olympics. And the Brazilian made history. With a total of 54,899 points across all six apparatuses, he finished 33rd overall. Until then, the best performance by a Brazilian gymnast had been Gerson Gnoatto's 63rd place finish in 1980.
In addition to Brazil, Japan, Russia, Great Britain, France, Puerto Rico, Sweden, China, Bulgaria, Latvia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus competed on the first day of the men's competition. Today, 12 more teams will debut at the World Cup.
Victor Rosa (pictured) left the gym feeling confident. He believes Brazil's performance can yield positive results. "We did well. Of course, there's always a feeling we could have done better, but the final result was positive."
Diego is aware that it will be very difficult for Brazil to take one of the team spots, but he believes the group can take at least two spots in the individual competition:
"Other powers will still compete. It's very likely that we could drop a few positions and still be able to take at least two athletes to Beijing."
Sergio Du Bocage
There's what you wanted!
mea culpa
Sergio Du Bocage bocage@jsports.com.br
Flamengo didn't return to the relegation zone because Atlético-PR beat Atlético-MG. Rather, it was because Souza missed a penalty against Botafogo. And also because they failed to beat Sport at the Maracanã, precisely on the day they had a huge fan base and recorded a record attendance in this Brazilian Championship. Would it be too much to claim two wins in these games? No. Maybe in the derby, but from the moment you miss a penalty, a draw starts to be seen as a defeat. They were four points away, which would have put them in 13th place, with two games in hand.
O Dia
A lot of anger at Flamengo
Irritated by Saturday's draw, Joel spared no one from his wrath, but Roger was his main target: "The situation is horrible. There was a lack of competence and maturity. You can't just get booked all the time."
Rio - For his first Sunday off since returning to Gávea, coach Joel Santana was planning a relaxed day. But Flamengo's return to the relegation zone, due to a 1-1 draw with Sport on Saturday and Atlético-PR's 1-0 victory over Atlético-MG, ruined his day and was reflected on Monday.
Deeply irritated by the team's situation, having won two and drawn two in four home games, Joel—who had expected nothing but victories—gathered the players and sent out a tirade. No one escaped. And midfielder Roger, once again out of the team due to a suspension (in 10 games, he missed four appearances), was one of the main targets.
The coach didn't even leave home on Sunday, "so as not to hear unpleasant things," but he didn't spare the players' ears for 30 minutes. "I'm really angry. The situation is horrible, and it's our fault because we lacked competence. The fans are angry, as are the board and the players. But the players lacked maturity. Roger is almost 30, he's mature, and he should know better than to get a silly card," he raged.
In addition to Roger, Juan, and Fábio Luciano, who are suspended, Ronaldo Angelim and Maxi Biancucchi, both injured, are also out of the squad for tomorrow night's match against Figueirense at Maracanã. The defense is expected to consist of newcomers Thiago Sales and Rodrigo Arroz. At left-back, instead of fielding the specialist Egídio, Joel may 'invent' Léo Medeiros, who was tested at the position yesterday. Obina and Leonardo trained together in attack and could be the undecided coach's option.
If things are bad, or rather, horrific, as Joel described, they could get even worse if the team, currently in 17th place with 26 points, doesn't beat Figueirense, who is also struggling in the standings (16th). At Gávea, everyone knows a win is worth more than three points.
"It's worth the peace of mind for us to face Internacional away from home this weekend. I told them this, I made demands, and I wasn't at all lenient. We can't tell stories about Uncle Janjão, because our situation is horrible," he stated again, recalling an old radio program that told stories to kids in the middle of the last century.
LÉO MEDEIROS ACCEPTS BEING A LATERAL
Supporter Léo Medeiros swears he played left-back when he was at Ipatinga. He also recalled that he's replaced Juan in some game situations, when he was assigned to drop to the left to help with marking. Therefore, he guarantees he won't have any problems if he's picked in Juan's place.
For Léo Medeiros, this difficult time requires everyone's support. Joel Santana said he might choose him because the midfielder "is experienced and creative, and can also play as a winger." Léo Medeiros is grateful for the confidence and promises to give his all if he's selected.
"Figueirense will play with three defenders and try to congest the midfield. We have to drop deep to cross the ball into the box and try to score. The victory, besides taking us out of the relegation zone, will give us peace of mind for the match against Internacional."
The bad moment of a promise
Young Renato Augusto never lacked personality. During the team's toughest moments, he always stepped up and tried to explain the team's ups and downs. But since returning from the U-20 World Cup in Canada in July, Renato Augusto hasn't seemed the same. He's almost always downcast and rarely smiles.
For some, the coaches' stubbornness in improvising him as a striker is one of the factors in his downfall. Others believe that the board's exaggerated expectations, which stipulated a €30 million fine for anyone wanting to sign him, weighed heavily on him. But no one talks openly about the midfielder's decline in performance, after he excelled in the State Championship.
Booed on Saturday, Renato Augusto seems to be feeling the weight of having been presented by the club's management, at 17, as the club's brightest prospect since Zico. After the match against Sport, Joel Santana said he was concerned and would speak to the player about his current form. "We feel he's not doing well."
And it seems he's not. Yesterday, for the first time since his promotion to the professional ranks almost two years ago, Renato Augusto declined to give interviews. Perhaps because he couldn't explain the difficult phase he's going through and the team's dire situation. The club's psychologist, Paulo Ribeiro, plans to speak with the player today.
"He was very nervous, even upset, after the game against Sport. I couldn't even talk to him. I always avoid talking to players when they're feeling emotionally down. I'm only going to talk to him to try to help him in some way," said Paulo Ribeiro.
Flamengo: Thiago Sales ready for a new challenge
Rio - Challenges are part of the life of young Thiago Sales, who was obese as a child and turned to soccer to improve his physical condition. A three-time state champion with the youth team, finishing second in the top scorer rankings with eight goals, the 20-year-old defender always knew that the pressure at Flamengo was proportional to the fame he achieved. Therefore, he calmly welcomed the news of his promotion to the professional team. Without any nervousness, he also accepted the role given to him by coach Joel Santana in the match against Sport, and made his debut for the senior team, scoring a goal.
With Fábio Luciano's suspension and Angelim's injury, Thiago is expected to remain on the team and has already spoken with his parents, José and Anália, about his responsibility.
A practicing Catholic, Thiago attends Sunday Mass at the Parish of St. Paul the Apostle in Copacabana, where he lives with his mother, a secretary at Petrobras. His father, an antiques shop owner, also lives near the defender, who this year had to suspend his college enrollment, where he was in his fifth year of studying Advertising, to dedicate himself solely to soccer.
The calm defender assures that he's ready for the mission of helping Flamengo through this difficult time. He only asks the fans not to give up on supporting the team.
"I'm living everything I've ever dreamed of. I received positive reviews for my debut, which wasn't better because we didn't win. But I also know that my responsibility only increases. But whoever plays here has to be prepared for anything, and I am. I just hope the fans, who have been wonderful, don't give up on us and come to Maracanã to help us beat Figueirense," he says.
Sports Gazette
Joel shows irritation after Flamengo's draw\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - This Monday morning saw the Flamengo squad return to training at Gávea. Before training, however, coach Joel Santana gathered the group to demand more commitment from the team that drew with Sport at the Maracanã last Saturday. The coach expressed irritation that the Rio de Janeiro club was once again in the relegation zone in the Brazilian Championship. "I thought we had learned something. We spent 15 rounds in the relegation zone, and when we left, I thought we wouldn't be back. We need to do our homework, because we might not have time later," the coach stated.
Despite Flamengo boasting a four-match unbeaten streak, Joel Santana guarantees he will maintain a heavy training schedule until the Rubro-Negro definitively moves away from the relegation zone. "It's a very tough competition, and once you get an advantage, you can't waste it. No one here is satisfied. Not the coaching staff, the board, the fans, or the players."
With absences, coach outlines Flamengo for Wednesday\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Coach Joel Santana used Monday's training session to outline the Flamengo team he intends to field against Figueirense on Wednesday at Maracanã. For this match, the coach will be without defender Fábio Luciano, midfielder Roger, and left-back Juan, all suspended, as well as forward Souza, who is still serving a suspension imposed by the Superior Court of Justice (STJD). Flamengo could also be without defender Ronaldo Angelim and midfielder Maximiliano Biancucchi. "Ronaldo Angelim has groin pain, and we'll see how he is tomorrow (Tuesday). Maxi didn't touch the ball, and I think it's unlikely he'll be able to play," explained the Flamengo coach.
To replace Fábio Luciano, defender Rodrigo Arroz was chosen on Monday. Thiago Sales could remain in the team if Ronaldo Angelim is ruled out by the club's doctors. At left back, Joel surprised everyone by improvising with midfielder Léo Medeiros.
"Whether in midfield or on the wing, I know I can come in and help Flamengo, because I've been working hard here at Flamengo," said Léo, who urged fans to remain calm. "The fans need to be patient, because their team (Figueirense) is likely to come out strong, and we'll need to be calm to score."
To fill the void left by Roger in midfield, the coach is expected to move Renato Augusto back to the midfield, with Leonardo and Paulo Sérgio competing for the spot alongside Obina. This Tuesday, the coach will lead Flamengo's final training session before facing Figueira. The likely starting lineup for the match is: Bruno; Leonardo Moura, Rodrigo Arroz, Ronaldo Angelim (Thiago Sales), and Léo Medeiros; Rômulo, Cristian, Ibson, and Renato Augusto; Leonardo (Paulo Sérgio), and Obina.
Off the field, Flamengo's board hopes to resolve this week the paperwork issue with midfielder Hugo Colace, who signed a pre-contract last week. The goal is to regularize his status with the CBF quickly to make him available to coach Joel Santana, as the club has few options for midfield marking.
Renato Augusto guarantees calm in the face of boos\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Considered one of Flamengo's biggest revelations of late, midfielder Renato Augusto hasn't been in good form since returning from injury. In response, he received boos from the Flamengo fans in recent games, when the Gávea team drew with Botafogo and Sport. The 19-year-old player says he takes the protests from the Maracanã stands in stride. "I've been in the stands and also held Flamengo players accountable. Anyone who wears this jersey knows the pressure is constant, especially when the team is fighting to avoid relegation," he declared. "Fans pay for tickets and have the right to demand more from those they think can perform better. That's why I won't be shaken. On the contrary, I'll use the criticism as motivation."
According to the athlete, the drop in performance is normal. "I know I didn't perform as well as the fans were used to, especially at the beginning of the season, when we won the State Championship. But I was out for a long time recovering from a muscle injury, and it's normal to take time to regain fitness and match rhythm."
Against Figueirense this Wednesday, Renato Augusto is expected to play in midfield again, as Roger is suspended. The player assures he has the support of coach Joel Santana to turn things around. "I've been talking to Joel, and he reassured me by reminding me that I'm still in my first year as a professional. Sometimes, even I forget that I started in the Copa do Brasil finals last year, and this is the first time I've been with the team during such a difficult time," he explained. "Besides, I've been in a very strong rhythm since last year. I've barely had any vacation time while dealing with an injury."
The midfielder believes the string of games he's been playing has also taken its toll. "We played in the State Championship and the Libertadores, with games practically every two or three days. Then I traveled with the Brazilian U-20 team and came back with the team desperately needing a win. This left thigh injury has ended up hindering me even more. But I'm confident that I just need time to get back to my full potential," he concluded.
PeléNet
Flamengo's deal with Argentine midfielder is postponed again
Leonardo Velasco\ In Rio de Janeiro\
The saga surrounding the signing of Argentine midfielder Hugo Colace continues to drag on at Flamengo. The player has already undergone medical examinations at the club, and the red-and-black team has even sent some of his documentation to the CBF, but the deal has yet to be finalized.
Nilmar is still a red-black dream
"There's nothing new. There are still some obstacles, and we're trying to overcome them. But the player is interested in staying here," said Kleber Leite, vice president of football at the club.
The problem is that Argentine clubs Estudiantes de La Plata and Newell's Old Boys have been unable to reach an agreement on the player's release. The former reached an agreement with Flamengo, but the latter is still holding up negotiations. According to Colace, the transfer had already been finalized. The player has been in Rio de Janeiro since last week and has even passed the club's exams.
The final decision (whether the Rio de Janeiro club signs or releases the player) is expected to be made this Tuesday. Flamengo has already registered Hugo Colace with the CBF to avoid missing the window for players from abroad. However, documents are still missing and will be required soon.
"We need to resolve this soon, especially because we no longer have a deadline for this," said football director Marcos Braz.
Team still dreams of Nilmar\ This Monday, striker Nilmar's agent, Orlando da Hora, revealed a likely transfer for the player to Internacional. He also highlighted offers from Santos and São Paulo, but didn't even mention Flamengo's interest. Even so, the club's vice president of football asserts that he still hopes to secure the reinforcement.\
"We'll fight to sign Nilmar until the 49th minute of the second half," promised Kleber Leite.
Guilherme Toscano contributed.
After boos, Renato Augusto prefers silence at Fla
Leonardo Velasco\ In Rio de Janeiro\
"Here you go from heaven to hell very quickly." The phrase uttered by coach Joel Santana this Monday about Flamengo's current situation could also be referring to one of the team's key players. Midfielder Renato Augusto, in fact, really needed the coach as a spokesperson, as he preferred not to speak to the press after training.
Failure at the U-20 World Cup and excessive pressure are possible reasons for the drop
For a few games now, Renato Augusto has been showing dissatisfaction with his performances. Last Saturday, against Sport, the situation worsened, demonstrating Joel's point. One of the club's main idols, the player left the field to boos when forward Kayke came on.
This Monday, after participating normally in the tactical training session held at Gávea, Renato Augusto was called to a press conference, but he remained silent and didn't comment on his current form. This isn't common, as the midfielder is considered a strong athlete and often gives interviews, even after poor results, despite being only 19 years old.
"It's like that here. I've seen Zico and Adriano booed. Renato Augusto grew up here, but he's never been through this. You have to have a strong mind to handle it. You can't talk about the fans being fair or unfair. These are Flamengo fans. You have two options: either live with it or...", said football director Marcos Braz.
Among the reasons for Renato Augusto's poor form, one appears to be resolved for Wednesday's game against Figueirense at 20:30 PM at Maracanã. Having improvised in attack several times, the midfielder is expected to return to his original position.
With many problems, Joel works to scale Fla
Leonardo Velasco\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Coach Joel Santana is having a lot of work putting together Flamengo's team. The Flamengo manager described the last game (a 1-1 draw with Sport) as the worst since returning to the club. To top it all off, the coach will have to reconcile a team with numerous absences.
"We're having some problems, but that's how the Brazilian Championship is. Some are out due to injury, others due to cards. But we're not going to complain, we're going with what we have in the squad," said the Flamengo coach.
Four players are certain to be absent from Wednesday's match against Figueirense at Maracanã, starting at 20:30 pm. Striker Souza remains serving a suspension imposed by the Superior Court of Justice (STJD). Additionally, defender Fabio Luciano, left-back Juan, and midfielder Roger received their third yellow cards last Saturday.
"Roger is almost 30 years old and is mature enough to know how to behave on the field. There are necessary cards and silly ones," complained Joel, referring to yet another suspension for the midfielder.
But it's not just suspensions that are hampering Joel Santana. Argentine forward Maxi is still recovering from a left thigh strain and his return is not guaranteed. Defender Ronaldo Angelim trained on Monday but felt groin pain and may not return to the team.
"Ronaldo Angelim will be re-evaluated tomorrow [Tuesday], as will Toró. I think Maxi is a difficult one. He hasn't even touched the ball yet," he said.
During Monday morning's training session, the club's manager ran a few tests. Replacing Fabio Luciano, Rodrigo Arroz trained first alongside Ronaldo Angelim and then Thiago Sales. Léo Medeiros was given a makeshift left-back position, replacing the reserve Egídio.
In attack, Renato Augusto returned to midfield, his original position, and Leonardo paired with Obina. Flamengo's likely starting lineup for Wednesday is: Bruno; Léo Moura, Rodrigo Arroz, Thiago Sales, and Léo Medeiros; Rômulo, Cristian, Ibson, and Renato Augusto; Leonardo (Maxi), and Obina.
BalloonSport
The end of the soap opera Colace is scheduled for Tuesday.
Newell's continues to hinder the Argentine's arrival. Flamengo's patience is at its limit.
Colace circulated around Gávea but did not close
Flamengo was still unable to officially announce the deal with Argentine Hugo Colace this time. Once again, the directors spent the day in Gávea waiting for a positive response from Newell's Old Boys. In the end, the deal was postponed again.
Patience and time are running out. This Tuesday, a final meeting is expected to close or cancel the deal. While waiting, the Argentine midfielder is taking the opportunity to get to know the Rubro-Negro better. Last Saturday, he was at the Maracanã and was impressed by the fans.
"He's dying to come. But he's young and can't get into trouble with those guys (Argentines). We'll try to resolve everything," says Flamengo's football director, Marcos Braz.
At 23, Colace was playing for Estudiantes. However, part of his federation rights belong to Newell's. If the deal is finalized, he will sign a contract until June 2008.
The deadline for overseas transfers ended last Friday. But Flamengo assures that it has submitted the necessary documentation for a sort of "pre-registration." Now, all that remains is to complete the process.
'Criticism motivates me,' says Renato Augusto
Via press office, Flamengo supporter breaks silence and asks for time
Renato Augusto leaves the field after Flamengo training in Gávea
While Renato Augusto was unable to face the microphones and pens at Gávea due to personal commitments, the Flamengo fan later decided to break his silence via his press office. Despite his poor form and the harassment from some fans in recent games, the athlete assures that he understands the boos.
"I've been in the stands and also held the Flamengo players accountable. So, I won't be shaken. On the contrary, I'll use the criticism as motivation. I know I didn't perform as well as the fans were used to," he declares.
A recent injury to his right thigh was also cited as a reason for his drop in performance in recent games. Renato Augusto is simply asking for time to return to his best form.
- I've been talking to Joel and he reassured me by reminding me that I'm still in my first year as a professional. But I'm confident that I just need time to get back to performing at my best - he says. It remains to be seen whether Flamengo fans will have more patience.
In high school, Roger would fail
The midfielder has a 37% absence rate for Flamengo games. He won't play on Wednesday.
Roger has too many cards at Fla
For a defensive midfielder, receiving three yellow cards and being sent off once in seven games is a significant feat. Imagine for a midfielder. Well, that's Roger's record at Flamengo.
Since his debut on July 29 against Corinthians, the midfielder has appeared in seven of the club's ten games. He is suspended next Wednesday against Figueirense, making his fourth game absent.
Overall, the absence rate for games is 37%. If he were in high school, Roger would fail. A student can only miss 25% of classes. Teacher Joel Santana is aware of the player's excessive indiscipline.
"He, at almost 30, is mature enough to know how to behave on the field. There are necessary cards and silly ones," the commander declares.
For now, the board rules out punishing the athlete.
Joel Santana has a furious day at Fla
Coach loses patience and says he is irritated by 'horrible' campaign in the Brazilian Championship
Eduardo Peixoto
Joel Santana scratches his head during training. Hot Monday in Gávea
The return to the relegation zone shook Flamengo, especially coach Joel Santana. After taking Sunday off, instead of cooling his head, the coach returned to work even more angry on Monday.
After talking with the group for half an hour and leading a tactical drill for about an hour, Joel appeared at the press conference completely out of control. He complained, for example, that he couldn't leave the house on his day off to avoid hearing "unpleasant things" on the street.
"I'm angry! I thought we'd learned our lesson, but we haven't. We messed up in the last two games and are back in the relegation zone. It's time to learn. Against Botafogo, we missed a penalty, and against Sport, we committed a foul inside the box on a defender (Igor)," he declares.
"The campaign is horrible and there's no other way to talk about it... There's no point telling Uncle Janjão's story."\ Joel, outraged by Flamengo's position in the Brazilian Championship\ The poor campaign in the Brazilian Championship is compounded by the excessive absences. Against Figueirense, on Wednesday, four players are suspended (Souza, Juan, Fábio Luciano and Roger) and two are injured (Maxi and Angelim).\
Roger is one of the targets
On the verge of a nervous breakdown, Joel vents his frustrations. He criticizes the players who, despite being suspended, couldn't "control themselves." The message is aimed squarely at Roger, who is serving his third suspension in 11 games for Flamengo.
"He, at almost 30, is mature enough to know how to behave on the field. There are necessary cards and silly ones," he says.
If the fury was visible in front of the journalists, it was even greater with the players.
"The campaign is horrific, and there's no other way to talk about it. Things have to be told as they happen. There's no point telling Uncle Janjão's story because our reality is different," he says.
The players took the blow and had a quiet Monday. The exception was Leo Lima and Toró, who, after the coach's scolding, left the field smiling. Both, injured, did not practice on Monday.
Throw
Hugo Colace: Tuesday is D-Day for Flamengo
To complete the negotiation, an agreement with Argentina is needed.
Hugo Perruso and Rodrigo Benchimol
Flamengo expects to finalize the signing of Argentine Hugo Colace this Tuesday. The player has already signed a pre-contract with the club, but negotiations are contingent on an agreement with Estudiantes La Plata and Newell's Old Boys. Flamengo wants the midfielder on loan until the middle of next year, but wants a contract that will provide them with some advantage if the player is traded.
"We haven't been able to finalize it yet, but I'm hopeful that everything will be resolved. The most important thing is that the player has already shown interest and even given up some things," said vice president of football Kleber Leite, who complained that the matter had leaked before the deal was finalized.
Hugo Colace, 23, plays for Newell's Old Boys and is on loan to Estudiantes, which owns part of the player's federation rights.
Fans help Fla improve performance
Support in the last five rounds made the team's performance soar
Rodrigo Mandarini
One of the most discussed topics in soccer conversations is the power of a fan base. For many, fans win games. For others, having a large fan base in the stands is irrelevant. The fact is that Flamengo, in its last five games at Maracanã, averaged 41.718 paying fans and secured 11 of the 15 points. Their success rate was 73% in the last five games, compared to 31% in the other 16. To give you an idea, São Paulo has a 72% success rate in the Brazilian Championship.
Compared to the attendance of fans of the Brazilian league leader, São Paulo, the support of the red-and-blacks in these last five rounds at home is much higher. The Tricolor has had an average attendance of 25.491 fans at its Morumbi games. However, since football isn't an election, more fans in the stadium doesn't mean more points in the standings. São Paulo has won every game in this period, totaling 15 points.
Until the end of the Brazilian Championship, Flamengo will play 11 more home games. If they achieve the same 73% record as in the last five rounds, they will earn 24 more points. Currently in the relegation zone, the team would have 26 points with its current 50 points. They would still have six away matches—18 points to play for—to gain points and see how far the team can go.
Last year, Ponte Preta, the highest-placed team among the relegated teams, had 39 points. Atlético-PR, the last team to qualify for the Copa Sudamericana, had 48 points. Fourth-placed Santos, the team that qualifies for the Copa Libertadores this year, was ranked 64 points.
Check out Flamengo's performance in the last five games at Maracanã:
Date Opponent Score Paying Public
16/08 Fluminense 1 x 0 - 49.828\ 23/08 Juventude 4 x 0 - 16.845\ 26/08 Goiás 3 x 1 - 44.920\ 29/08 Botafogo 1 x 1 - 45.445\ 1/09 Sport 1 x 1 - 51.552\
Joel should select Medeiros for his experience
Midfielder has never started a game in that position, but he thinks it will be easy.
Coach Joel Santana lost left-back Juan, one of Flamengo's key players in recent games, after receiving his third yellow card. In his place, he's expected to field makeshift midfielder Léo Medeiros against Figueirense. The coach explained the decision to omit specialist Egídio, who would have been the most likely player, during Monday morning's training session. However, he didn't rule out the youngster.
- Léo Medeiros is a creative player and can play there. Our other option is Egídio, who is a young player.
Probably a starter, Léo Medeiros has never started a game at left back, but he has played in that position in an emergency situation.
"Joel hasn't confirmed it yet, but I feel comfortable in that position; I've played there before. During games, I work well with Juan. I understand the role of a full-back. It's a big responsibility to replace Juan, who's been in good form," he stated.
Irritated, Joel complains about lost points
The coach even said that the team's participation in the Brazilian Championship is horrible
Joel Santana's irritation during Monday's training session was blatant. Before practice, he chatted with the players for half an hour, gesturing wildly. Afterwards, Natalino let rip, even going so far as to say that the team's performance in the Brazilian Championship is abysmal:
"We're back in the relegation zone because of us. We could have beaten Botafogo and Sport. We need to be more mature and competent. I'm angry, as are the players, fans, and management. When we left the relegation zone, I thought we wouldn't get back. So, we have to learn from this," the coach stated.
Thiago Sales ready for another
Flamengo defender Thiago Sales, recently promoted from the youth team, says he's ready to play another game for Flamengo. He scored the team's goal in the draw against Sport-PE this Saturday at Maracanã in the Brazilian Championship. He believes he performed well and is eagerly awaiting another opportunity, which could come as early as Wednesday's match against Figueirense at Maracanã.
The young defender also highlighted the realization of a dream of his at Gávea.
radio l! - I've always dreamed of playing for Flamengo. Thank God I was able to fulfill this dream and even scored a goal. I hope to always be ready so that if Joel needs me, I can respond - he says. (Click and listen)