The Globe
Joel waits for Renato Augusto to climb Fla
Roger has already been ruled out for the game against Paraná, in Curitiba
The Flamengo-Flu defeat, coupled with the provocations from Thiago Neves and Renato Gaúcho, hasn't yet sunk in at Gávea. Even so, Flamengo is trying to focus its efforts on the battle it will face against Paraná on Saturday in Curitiba. Coach Joel Santana knows in advance that he won't have Roger and Leonardo, who have been ruled out by the medical department. But he's still waiting for the return of Renato Augusto, who is recovering from a left thigh injury.
"Renato trained physically with Paulo Sérgio. Maybe he can train with the ball tomorrow (today) afternoon," said doctor Walter Martins yesterday.
Striker Maxi should return to Curitiba
Striker Maxi Biancucchi, after serving a suspension in the Fla-Flu match, will be available for Joel. In fact, the defeat in the derby hasn't yet sunk in at Gávea. Supporter Cristian, mocked on the field by Thiago Neves with a provocation - "Flamengo needs to keep an eye out or they'll be relegated" - reacted yesterday, claiming the Tricolor player was disrespectful.
"It's not normal in a game. Everyone should mind their own business. He showed no respect to me, and especially not to Flamengo, the club with the largest fan base in the country," said the player.
Yesterday, the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) scheduled the trial of striker Obina, suspended for 18 days, for the 120th.
Trophy with uncertain future
CBF is still studying what to do if São Paulo wins the fifth title
A trophy created in the early 70s could become a source of controversy more than 30 years later. The trophy is kept at the CBF headquarters and, upon its inception, would become the permanent possession of the first club to win the competition five times. According to the CBF, which recognizes Sport as the 1987 champion, São Paulo, if it wins the 2007 Brazilian Championship, will become the country's first five-time champion. Now, the organization says it will consider its next action.
The trophy, then temporarily owned, was last awarded to a club in 1992, when Flamengo won the championship. According to Flamengo and the Clube dos 13, of which São Paulo is a member, it was the Rio de Janeiro club's fifth title. From then on, the CBF kept the trophy at its headquarters and created another trophy for the Brazilian Championship. This would be awarded definitively to the club that won three editions of the competition, which Corinthians achieved in 2005.
In 1987, São Paulo itself recognized Flamengo as the true national champion.
"When I arrived at the CBF, this trophy was no longer awarded. To avoid these problems, we now award a permanent trophy to the champion each year. I'm analyzing the regulations from the time to determine whether we should actually award the cup to São Paulo. We want to put an end to the controversy," said Virgílio Elísio, the organization's competitions director.
The final decision, it seems, will be made by the president of the CBF, Ricardo Teixeira.
"I'm waiting for him to return from abroad, and we'll talk about it. We have a great relationship with São Paulo, and for now, I don't see any reason for a fight. But we'll seek an understanding," said Flamengo president Márcio Braga.
Sports Journal
Fla strengthened against Paraná
Maxi, who served an automatic suspension, and Renato Augusto, recovered from injury, are back
Nathan de Lima and Pedro Veríssimo
With an excellent average of ten goals in ten matches, Maxi Biancucci returns to the Fla team
The end of a five-game unbeaten streak—including victories over Brazilian league leaders and runners-up São Paulo and Cruzeiro—seems to have not shaken the confidence of the red-and-black fans, who have made no secret of their hopes of seeing the team back in the Libertadores. Among the main reasons for fans to believe in a return to winning ways—in the next round, Saturday, away against Paraná—is the return of two key players: Argentine Maxi Biancucci and midfielder Renato Augusto.
Maxi, who played a key role in the victories over Atlético-MG and, especially, leaders São Paulo, will return to the team after serving a suspension in the 2-0 loss to Fluminense. With two goals in ten matches, the Argentine is expected to form a strike partnership with Souza in Curitiba.
Renato Augusto, however, isn't 100% guaranteed, though he's quite likely. Having not played since the draw with Vasco, when he suffered a left thigh strain, he missed four matches. Now recovered, he was already training separately from the group, but he's expected to return to training today.
As Flamengo will only play again at the weekend, Renato Augusto will have four days to regain his fitness and the number 10 shirt.
Joel and the nightmare\ Unlike the fans, coach Joel Santana knows that securing a spot in next year's Copa Libertadores is still a long way off. But, despite being cautious, he assured that the team will not give up.\
"We only have 40 points. If we had beaten Fluminense, we would have reached 43, which would still be low, but it would be better. This defeat won't shake us or demotivate us, but we can't think about the Libertadores just yet. First, we have to think about reaching 50 points," said the coach—without hiding the fact that the priority is to save Flamengo from the nightmare of relegation.
Juniors against São Cristóvão in the OPG
After losing to Nova Iguaçu 2-1 last Saturday, Flamengo's youth team will return to the field tomorrow against São Cristóvão, at 13 pm, at the Rua Figueira de Melo field, for the third round of the Octávio Pinto Guimarães Tournament (OPG).
If they win, the team led by coach Adílio could take the lead in Group A of the competition alongside Nova Iguaçu, which has six points.
Important game\ One of the team's standouts, number 10 Vander, said that tomorrow's game is very important and that the players are hoping for a victory against the club that revealed Ronaldo Fenômeno.\
"Expectations are good; the team, despite having lost, is doing very well. We know it's our obligation to win, as we lost to Nova Iguaçu. If we don't win now, they'll fall further behind, and then things will get much more complicated," said Vander.
In pain, Roger will remain out
Midfielder Roger is out of Flamengo's next game against Paraná on Saturday in Curitiba. With mysterious pain in his left thigh, the player will only be cleared (by the medical department) to train next Monday.
"Roger underwent tests and we are waiting for the results, which should be available in five to seven days," said Walter Martins, the club's doctor.
Dismissal at Paraná — In crisis and in the relegation zone of the Brazilian Championship, Paraná has changed coaches once again. With the departure of Lori Sandri, who resigned yesterday afternoon, Saulo de Freitas took over. A former player and the club's greatest legend, he is the fifth coach to lead Paraná in this Brazilian Championship. The others were Zetti, Pintado, and Gilson Kleina.
Cristian fuels argument with Flu's number 10
Flamengo fan Cristian is furious with Thiago Neves: 'He didn't show me any respect'
The argument between Cristian and Thiago Neves isn't over yet. During the Flamengo-Flu match, the Flamengo midfielder asked the Tricolor to stop simulating fouls by constantly falling on the field.
Thiago Neves responded by saying that the team that would truly be relegated would be Flamengo: to the Second Division. Cristian responded yesterday to the Fluminense supporter's statements. The player said he felt disrespected and also warned that the Tricolor athlete will have to explain himself.
"A player can't use a victory and an argument with a player from the other team to insult a club like Flamengo, which has over 100 years of history and a fan base that is a reference point throughout the country. It's sad to hear from a professional that Flamengo should be more concerned about the Second Division," said Cristian—who believes Thiago Neves will still be held accountable for his statements.
"Everyone should mind their own business. He showed no respect to me, and especially to Flamengo," said the Flamengo midfielder. Yesterday, the Tricolor supporter apologized for his remarks during Sunday's derby.
To reach the top of the table
Teams from the capital are striving to overcome those from the interior, who are leading the State Futsal Championship
Mariana Land
The capital's teams are being supplanted by those from the interior, including Fla and América
With four games remaining in the second round of the State Futsal Championship, the battle for qualification is fiercely contested, and the final result is difficult to predict. The teams are closely ranked, and everyone is determined to fight.
In Group A, leader Petrópolis remains undefeated in the competition, having defeated CSSE in the last round and maintained its excellent performance. Second-place Teresópolis managed to maintain its position in the table by defeating Vasco.
In Group B, Cabo Frio remains in the lead, pursued by Flamengo, second in the standings. Both teams achieved impressive victories in the last round, against Drogaria do Povo and América, respectively.
Despite fighting for good positions and qualification, the capital's teams are struggling to overcome the teams from the interior, which are at the top of the table. Vasco and Flamengo are closer to reversing this situation. However, the challenge is significant for both teams. Flamengo, for example, faces two of the toughest games of the season: against Macaé and Cabo Frio. The team is training intensely to earn these important points.
Off-field
But the capital's teams have to deal with problems that go beyond the courts: amateurism.
"The teams in the capital are amateur, they train only once: at night. In the countryside, the teams are professional, and they can train in two or even three periods. It's difficult for us; the players sometimes have other commitments. It would be better if the games were played on Saturday afternoons, so they wouldn't be detrimental to the teams," said Cid Escarlate, Fla's coach.
The other teams from the capital haven't yet performed well. Bottom-placed Montanha and América, for example, are in the bottom of the tournament. The upcoming matches promise intense action.
Fla prepares to face Campos team
After beating Fluminense 91 to 86, Flamengo is preparing to face Automóvel Clube, this Friday, at 17 pm, at the Hélio Maurício Gymnasium, in Gávea.
On Sunday, coach Paulo Chupeta's team faces Municipal, at 12 pm, at the Gávea court.
Flamengo has two games and two wins in the State Championship.
Sergio Du Bocage
Here's What You Wanted!
Stumbles
Sérgio Du Bocage bocage@jsports.com.br
Those unfamiliar with the traditional Fla-Flu history may have been surprised by the results of this match in the current Brazilian Championship. The first featured a new character, Maxi, who usually emerges and establishes himself in the classic. The second featured a clash of fans: one much bigger than the other, and one that usually comes out on top. It's very rare for the biggest fan base to emerge happy from this matchup, and the favorite also tends to lose. Therefore, the red-and-black victory in the first half and the tricolor victory in the second half were more than normal. The match ended in a draw, and next year the teams will face each other again.
And, apparently, it will only be in the State Championship and the next Brazilian Championship. Fluminense is barred from competing in the Copa do Brasil and the Copa Sudamericana (which Flamengo can still dream of). And Flamengo, I believe, won't have the clout to qualify for the Libertadores, where the Tricolor is already. This criterion is a shame and insane. Fluminense should at least have the right to decide whether or not to participate in the other competitions. They can't even attempt a second Copa do Brasil title.
For Flamengo, the setback shouldn't discourage Flamengo. Much less its fans, who, I acknowledge, are already champions of this Brasileirão. They left all the others far behind, in numbers, enthusiasm, and creativity. The song they released in the stands wasn't borrowed from any other club. They took the Victory Anthem and transformed it into an anthem of love.
O Dia
Flamengo: Tomorrow will be another day
Cristian doesn't take offense and warns that Thiago may need Fla in the future
Rio - In the heat of a Fla-Flu match, there's nothing like a little provocation to try to drive the enemy closer to hell. Tricolor's Thiago Neves discovered Cristian's Achilles' heel and stepped on it, mercilessly. The two argued, and Thiago Neves apologized yesterday, but Cristian is still trying to process his resentment with the Tricolor.
Still in the first half, after being fouled and falling over a lot, Thiago Neves was told by Flamengo that he should play more on his feet. Flamengo's response was as powerful as a punch: Flamengo, yes, should keep an eye on things, or they should avoid relegation to the second division.
"I heard he apologized, but I don't even want to talk about it anymore because I'm still very upset. A player can't take advantage of a victory and an argument with an opponent to insult a club like Flamengo, which has over 100 years of history and a fan base that is a reference point worldwide. The worst part is that in our profession, things change. One day, he might need Flamengo," he said.
His friend Leonardo Moura also didn't like the Tricolor's attitude, but he doesn't want to add fuel to the fire. He believes it's best to put an end to the controversy. "Thiago shouldn't have said that, but if he acknowledged his mistake and apologized, let's let it go. In the heat of the game, people say things they shouldn't," said the full-back.
Rômulo also thought it best to forget the confusion, as beating Paraná on Saturday is much more important. "It's better not to pay attention to these things. We should just focus on winning our games." At Gávea, everyone knows that winning can be the shortest path to peace.
Joel complains about the calendar and lack of parts
One game at a time, another too, coach Joel Santana complains about the grueling schedule and the group's lack of replacements. Against Paraná, on Saturday, in Curitiba, he'll be able to count on striker Maxi Biancucchi, who was suspended. Midfielder Renato Augusto will train with the group and could be selected.
Joel has more reason to complain: Roger's situation continues. The midfielder has not yet recovered from the pain in his left thigh and remains sidelined. Roger will undergo treatment this week and is not expected to be released until Monday. Even his participation in the match against Vasco on the 18th is uncertain. Striker Leonardo, with a sprained ankle, will also miss the match against Paraná.
To make matters worse, striker Obina's retrial, scheduled for a full session of the Superior Court of Justice (STJD) last week, has been postponed. Yesterday, the organization's attorney general, Paulo Schmitt, announced that the retrial will be held on the 18th. The striker was suspended for 120 days for elbowing Internacional's Índio. Attorney Michel Assef Filho hopes to downgrade the assault (article 253) to a hostile act (article 255) and thus reduce the sentence imposed.
Renato Augusto could reappear against Paraná
Rio - After losing the derby to Fluminense this past Sunday, 2-0, coach Joel Santana received some good news. Renato Augusto, who has been in Flamengo's medical department since September 19th, is expected to be cleared to face Paraná next Saturday in Curitiba.
The player is recovering from a strained right thigh. Renato Augusto had been training with the ball throughout last week, but separately from the rest of the red-and-black squad. Still concerned that the player could get injured again, Joel Santana will assess the situation to determine if it's safe to use him against Paraná.
Renato Augusto has been out of the Flamengo team since the 1-1 draw against Vasco at Maracanã.
Roger will not face Paraná in Curitiba
Rio - Roger, a midfielder, won't be back in the Flamengo squad for the match against Paraná. He suffered a left thigh injury, which is precisely why he was unable to participate in last Sunday's Fla-Flu match. He hasn't recovered yet and is under the care of the club's medical department. Coach Joel Santana even considered taking Roger to Curitiba, but doctors nixed the idea.
Roger will now undergo specific treatments and, if all goes well, will be cleared to return to ball training next Monday. Even so, his participation in the derby against Vasco da Gama on the 18th at Maracanã Stadium is also still uncertain. The midfielder has been out of the Flamengo squad since September 8th, in the 3-0 loss to Internacional at Beira-Rio.
After being sidelined to improve his fitness, he reappeared against São Paulo, injured himself, and is ruled out. Along with Roger, forward Leonardo suffered a sprained ankle and will also miss the match against Paraná.
Sports Gazette
Joel worried about the relegation zone approaching\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Just as he did when Flamengo beat leaders São Paulo last Thursday, coach Joel Santana warned this Monday, one day after the 2-0 loss to Fluminense, that his team cannot rest easy in the Brazilian Championship until they completely eliminate any risk of relegation. "We cannot rest until we reach 50 points, then we will see how it goes," said the coach, avoiding making predictions about qualification for the Copa Sudamericana or the Libertadores.
The red-black players are also hoping for rehabilitation in next Saturday's match against Paraná, in Curitiba, to resume the "honeymoon" that the team has been maintaining with the fans, who have the best average attendance in this Brazilian Championship.
"We know that Paraná is coming off a loss and will also want the result, but Flamengo really needs this victory, even to bring the fans back to our side," said Rômulo.
To leave Durival de Brito with three points, however, Flamengo will need to overcome an uncomfortable drought, as they have not won away from home in the Brazilian league since May, when they beat Goiás in the second round.
Under coach Joel Santana, who debuted in early August, the numbers aren't looking good either when Flamengo doesn't have home advantage. In the five matches he's coached the club outside of Rio de Janeiro, Joel has seen Flamengo lose four times and draw once.
Joel gains options in the offensive sector to face Paraná\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - In the derby against Fluminense last Sunday, Flamengo's attack proved ineffective and failed to overcome the Tricolor's defense. As a result, the team lost 2-0 and ended an unbeaten streak of more than four months at the Maracanã. Seeking recovery in the Brazilian Championship, where it is fighting to ward off the specter of relegation, Flamengo will face Paraná next Saturday in Curitiba. For the match, coach Joel Santana will have reinforcements in the offensive system.
Attacking midfielder Maximiliano Biancucchi, who has been playing alongside Souza, served a suspension against Fluminense and will be available again. Another option for the midfield is Renato Augusto, who has recovered from a muscle injury and is expected to train with his teammates this week. He was injured during the derby against Vasco on September 16th.
After the day off on Monday for those who faced Fluminense, Flamengo players return to training on Tuesday, when they will work full time.
Initially, Joel Santana should confirm the entry of Maxi Biancucchi in place of Toró, while Renato Augusto, who worked this Monday morning, should start the match against Paraná as a reserve, due to the time he was out of action.
Other attacking players who could be released to reinforce Joel's team are midfielder Roger and striker Leonardo, who were injured last week.
Ibson blames negligence and says that Flu 'is nothing special'
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Scorer of the goal that secured Flamengo's victory over São Paulo last Thursday, midfielder Ibson left the Maracanã visibly irritated by the red-and-black performance against another Tricolor, the Carioca, in Sunday's classic.\ For the player, the 2-0 defeat to the rival from Laranjeiras was more due to Flamengo itself than to the qualities shown by the Fluminense team.\
"We were careless, especially at the beginning of the first and second half. We couldn't repeat the performance we had against São Paulo," the player opined.
In the view of the red-and-black number seven, Fluminense, current champion of the Copa do Brasil and already qualified for the 2008 Copa Libertadores da América, 'is nothing special' to beat his team 2-0.
When asked what Flamengo lacked to come away with a better result in the derby, he said: "We lacked playing well. We weren't focused. We lost to a team that's not that great to beat us by two goals," he concluded.
BalloonSport
Roger will not face Paraná
Flamengo doctors will only release the midfielder on the 15th. Leonardo will also not play.
Eduardo Peixoto
Roger's drama will have another chapter. The midfielder has not yet recovered from the pain in his left thigh, and Flamengo's medical department has ruled him out of the match against Paraná on Saturday in Curitiba.
During the week, the player will undergo treatment and, in principle, will only be released on Monday, the 15th. Even his participation in the game against Vasco, on the 18th, is uncertain.
Roger hasn't started a match since September 8th against Inter. He was then sidelined to regain fitness and suffered a left thigh injury. In the match against São Paulo, the midfielder came on in the final minutes but felt pain in his left thigh again and didn't play against Fluminense.
Leonardo
Striker Leonardo, with a sprained ankle, will also not face Paraná.
Maxi Biancucchi returns against Paraná
Argentine served automatic suspension in the classic against Fluminense
Argentine striker Maxi Biancucchi, who served a suspension in the 2-0 defeat to Fluminense this Sunday at Maracanã, will return in the match against Paraná next Saturday at Durival de Brito in Curitiba.
Maxi has already played ten matches for the club and scored two goals. He should return to the attacking duo with Souza.
Lack of number 10 shirt is a problem at Fla
Injuries to Renato Augusto and Roger leave the team (almost) without options and full of defensive midfielders
Renato Augusto is expected to return to the team against Paraná next Saturday
Renato Augusto and Roger's thigh injuries leave coach Joel Santana at a crossroads game after game. Without the squad's two main midfielders, Flamengo invariably takes the field with a team packed with defensive midfielders.
In the derby against Fluminense, the midfield consisted entirely of defensive midfielders. The only available playmaker—Toró—was placed up front alongside Souza. On the bench, aside from center forward Kayke, there was no other player with attacking abilities.
Joel named as substitutes the full-backs Luizinho and Egídio, the defender Thiago Sales and the midfielders Leo Medeiros and Colace.
In the match against Paraná on Saturday, Renato Augusto will likely be fit to play. He has recovered from a strained right thigh and will begin training with his teammates starting Tuesday.
But what if the absence of supporters happens again, what will Joel Santana do? GLOBOESPORTE.COM lists some solutions for the red-and-black coach. And the outlook isn't very favorable.
Talk to the youth coach, Adílio, and "pull" the youngsters Erick Flores and Vânder into the professional ranks. Both are quite skilled and could be good options, at least for the bench.
Give Leo Lima his umpteenth chance. The midfielder has been forgotten at Gávea. He used to train as a striker, but his true position is in the middle. Who knows, maybe he'll at least nail a backheel pass...
Put Toró as the fourth midfielder and line up the team with two forwards (Maxi and Souza; Maxi and Leonardo; Kayke and Souza; Kayke and Leonardo...)
In some training sessions, Joel moved Maxi back to play the linking role and put in two strikers. It would be a kind of disguised 4-3-3.
'Thiago didn't respect Fla' says Cristian
Midfielder thinks Tricolor supporter was wrong to say rival is at risk of relegation
Thiago Neves's anti-relegation warning to Flamengo reached the locker room. After Sunday's derby, the players commented on the mockery. For the Fluminense fan, their rival should be wary, as the Second Division still threatens them.
Reactions to the provocation varied. Some were bothered by Thiago's stance. Midfielder Cristian, the protagonist of the play, responded:
"It's not normal in a game. Everyone should mind their own business. He showed no respect to me, and especially to Flamengo, the club with the largest fan base in the country. But everyone is responsible for their actions." Also starting in the derby, Rômulo preferred to ignore his rival:
"Let's not pay attention to these things. It's a provocation to irritate him, but I guarantee he won't succeed."
This Monday, Thiago Neves apologized for his statements after the classic.
Flamengo sits 13th in the Brazilian Championship with 40 points. However, the team has played one game less than most of its rivals (except Vasco). The first team in the relegation zone has 37.
Juan: 'We lost to a team that did nothing'
Left-back believes Flamengo outplayed Fluminense in the derby. Left-back Juan left the field unhappy with Flamengo's 2-0 loss to Fluminense (watch highlights below) on Sunday at Maracanã Stadium in the 30th round of the Brazilian Championship. He believes the derby's result was unfair given the red-and-black team's outplay. Fluminense exploited counterattacks and cruised to victory. "We lost to a team that didn't do anything special to win," says full-back Juan, who didn't replicate his recent strong performances.
Flamengo's next match in the Brazilian Championship is Saturday against Paraná in Curitiba. The Paraná team currently sits in the relegation zone with 34 points.
Homero promises a book about the Copa União
Sport's vice president of football will finish researching the competition to start writing
Replica of the cup that Fla won in 1992 and now wants the original
Sport's vice-president of football, Homero Lacerda, promises to write a book about the 1987 Copa União, a tournament surrounded by controversy involving the CBF and Clube dos 13 and which culminated in an eternal discussion about who was the true Brazilian champion of that year - the CBF considers Leão the champion, and C13, Flamengo.
In 2007, 20 years after the end of the Copa União, many events surrounding the competition were forgotten. With this in mind, Lacerda, then president of Sport, gathered documents with the intention of writing a book recounting everything that happened with the Pernambuco Red-Black team that year.
"I've been doing research, because it's almost impossible to write a book about a competition from 20 years ago based solely on memory. There are many things people don't know about, and I want to bring them back to life. If I don't start writing by the end of this year, I'll try in early 2008. What I'm running out of time for," says Homero Lacerda.
The '87 title is a source of pride for Pernambuco fans. Backed by a TRF ruling declaring the club officially the Copa União champion, Sport is sparing no effort to prevent any claims to the contrary.
Lion can go to court
When asked about the controversy involving São Paulo and Flamengo - both want to keep the trophy given by the CBF to the first five-time Brazilian champion -, Homero Lacerda promises to take legal action if the trophy ends up in Gávea.
"If necessary, we will take legal action, no matter who it is. We are always vigilant regarding the Copa União case. And we will immediately overturn any decision that goes against the club's interests," Lacerda assures.
Last week, the president of the Club of 13, Fábio Koff, said he could call a meeting of the organization to resolve a potential issue between Flamengo and São Paulo—Sport is also a member of the group. Lacerda doesn't even agree to the meeting.
"Koff is a good guy, I like him. But if this meeting is called, I'll send a letter immediately alerting him about the case," says the Leão director. "This (the case) has already been processed and judged. There's a law that determines that Sport is the champion. So, the discussion is over. A good citizen has to accept this. It's an ethical stance. I'm not addressing this to Koff, but to everyone."
Throw
Fla has yet to score a goal from a free kick in the Brazilian Championship
The last goal scored in this format was against Defensor
Cassius Leitao, Guilherme Machado and Rodrigo Benchimol
The Brasileirão is nearing its end, and Flamengo could win a "title": becoming the only team to finish the competition without scoring a goal from a free kick. The loss to Fluminense made clear the red-and-black team's lack of fundamentals.
In last Sunday's derby, there were three fouls on the edge of the box. In the first half, Juan had two opportunities. From inside the box, the left-back took a low shot, which glanced off the wall and went out for a corner on the first attempt. On the second, the full-back hit the wall at half-height.
In the second half, Cristian repeated Juan's incompetence, albeit in a different way. The shot even made it past the wall, but the ball went wide and wide of Fernando Henrique's goal.
To get an idea of the drought Flamengo is going through, just remember that the last free kick goal was scored by Renato (who has since left the club). The midfielder scored in the 2-0 victory over Defensor (URU) on May 9th in the Libertadores.
As incredible as it may seem, his absence is still used as a crutch at Gávea due to the lack of goals in this area. Instead of lamenting Renato's departure, the players who remained at the club should focus on practicing free kicks in training, which very rarely happens.
Another reason for the failure—the one coach Joel Santana cited before the derby against Vasco on September 16—is that the team rarely has a full week between matches. This excuse also doesn't hold water, considering that this hasn't been happening as often anymore.
Flamengo's performance in classics remains poor
In 11 games against their biggest rivals, Rubro-Negro only won one
CASSIUS LEITÃO
The 2007 season hasn't been kind to Flamengo when it comes to state derbies. In 11 matches against Vasco, Fluminense, or Botafogo, the Red-Blacks have only won one, including last Sunday's Fla-Flu clash.
The curious thing is that Flamengo managed to win the Campeonato Carioca without even beating one of its biggest rivals.
The only classic win for the red-and-black team this season came against Fluminense in the first round of the Brazilian Championship. Argentine Maxi scored the winning goal in a 1-0 victory. The Tricolor won the other two matches.
Against Botafogo, there were five matches and five draws, including the two in the State final, which culminated in the red-black title after a penalty shootout.
In three games against Vasco, Flamengo drew twice and lost 3-0 in the other, in which Romário almost scored his thousandth goal.
On the 18th, the teams face each other again, in the last Rubro-Negro classic in 2007.
Game 90 for Fla was not ideal for Ibson
Supporter reached the historic milestone for the club but lost the classic to Flu
Last Sunday's Fla-Flu match was bound to be remembered only positively by Ibson, as he completed 90 appearances for the Red-Blacks in the derby. However, the 2-0 defeat left the mark somewhat forgotten.
For Ibson, Flamengo was not as good as in recent matches and ended up dominated by Fluminense.
"We conceded goals very early and didn't have the strength to react. They took advantage of their chances and killed the game," he declared.
For Rômulo, nothing went right for Flamengo
Player laments defeat to Fluminense at Maracanã
While everything seemed to go right for Flamengo in their 1-0 victory against São Paulo, things were completely different this Sunday. Midfielder Rômulo stated that the red-and-black team didn't lack determination, but emphasized that nothing went right during the 2-0 loss to Fluminense.
"The players didn't lack commitment. We were technically weak. Everything went well for them. That's what happens in football," he said in an interview with Rádio Brasil.
Rômulo also commented that the team will continue fighting for something more in the Brazilian Championship.
"Relegation won't bother us again. I believe we can still reach the Libertadores group, because Flamengo has to think big, always aiming for something better. A big team with a fan base like ours has to think big. The championship is complicated, and a lot of things will happen," he said after the 1-0 loss to Fluminense.
Joel: 'There are days when things don't work out'
Coach lamented Flamengo's many misplaced passes
Flamengo coach Joel Santana lamented the team's numerous misplaced passes in the 2-0 derby loss to Fluminense this Sunday at Maracanã in the Brazilian Championship. However, the coach treated the loss as bad luck for the red-and-black team.
"There are days when you try things and they don't work out, and that's what happened. We tried to get things sorted in the locker room, but when we came back, we conceded the goal and that made things very difficult," said Joel.
Fluminense's goals were scored in the first minute of the first half by Somália and the second just two minutes into the second half, by Thiago Neves.