Clipping November 20th

Flamengo news in electronic media

By - in 20/11/2009 às 10:31

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THE GLOBE

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Total concentration by title
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\ On the day that Flamengo fans sell out tickets, Adriano takes responsibility\
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\ ADRIANO RESTS with the ball after training: the striker feels happy and says that\ he is turning things around at Flamengo
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\ FANS LINE UP at Maracanã to buy tickets and break record
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\ Marcos Penido
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In two hours, Flamengo fans sold out the last batch of 3.515 tickets for the match against Goiás on Sunday at Maracanã. A new attendance record for the four divisions of the Brazilian Championship is approaching with 78.834 paying fans and approximately 90 in attendance. In a 10-minute press conference yesterday afternoon at Ninho do Urubu, Adriano called for total concentration from the group, said the title was possible, took responsibility for it, and spoke of the pleasure of turning things around.
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"We had difficulties at the beginning of the Brazilian Championship. With the arrival of some players, the team began to balance itself, found the best way to play, and today we are competing for the title of the competition in which I am the top scorer. I can say that I am happy," said the player, concluding his thought:
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- When I returned to Brazil, I never imagined I'd make this comeback. When I go to sleep, I think about it a lot. I'm the top scorer in the Brazilian Championship and I could end the year as champion. It would be the pinnacle of my career. Because of everything that's happened in my life... It was very difficult to turn things around. But I knew that if I fought hard, I could do it. These are three rounds of intense concentration and dedication, because the title could be ours, yes. We have to do our part and hope for a São Paulo stumble. If it's meant to be, it will be.
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Maldonado out of action for six months
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\ The red-black players work hard under Andrade's command to\ achieve a good result against Goiás.
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"Their team is good. They have to be treated with a lot of respect. But I wanted to score a little goal," said Adriano.
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\ - Half to zero is great - completed defender Álvaro.
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\ - Seriousness and determination above all. God willing, on December 6th,\ we can celebrate together - said Toró.
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The seriousness with which everyone is dedicating themselves hasn't stopped the players from expressing their solidarity with Chilean midfielder Maldonado. The player arrived in Rio yesterday after being injured in the Chilean national team's friendly against Slovakia and underwent a series of tests. It was confirmed that he suffered a ruptured upper cruciate ligament in his left knee, and the recovery period stipulated by doctor José Luiz Runco is six months. As a result, Maldonado is out of the 2010 State Championship.
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"He will have surgery on Sunday. The estimated recovery time is six months, and may be brought forward depending on the response to treatment," Runco said.
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\ Football vice-president Marcos Braz said he intends to talk with\ directors of the Chilean Federation so that they can pay the player's salary for the\ time he is out for treatment.
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"Our first step will be to talk to the Chilean Federation. If there is no agreement, we can appeal to FIFA," he said.
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\ The manager spoke about the possibility of Palmeiras terminating\ Obina's contract for having exchanged punches with his teammate Maurício in the game against\ Grêmio:
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- Obina is on loan to Palmeiras until December 31st. After that, he will rejoin Flamengo upon his return from vacation. If Palmeiras wants to terminate his contract now, that's a decision for its management. But they must pay the player's salary until the end of the loan.
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\ Serbian Petkovic will be honored today, at 12 pm, on the Maracanã Walk of Fame, in a tribute from the State Secretariat of Tourism, Sports and Leisure.
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A player of refined, highly skilled football, Pet, as he is affectionately known by fans, was a three-time state champion (2000 and 2001 with Flamengo and 2003 with Vasco), and continues to bring joy upon his return to Flamengo this year. The tribute will be part of the documentary "O Gringo," which chronicles his career. He will be the fifth foreign player to be inducted into the Walk of Fame. Other stars include Franz Beckenbauer (Germany), Eusébio (Portugal), Romerito (Paraguay), and Elias Figueroa (Chile). At the Maracanã, Petkovic has already scored two of his eight career Olympic goals.
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\ - I identify with this city - said Petkovic.

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Paulistas are betrayed by their own nerves
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\ Emotional instability hinders Palmeiras and São Paulo's start
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The presence of São Paulo clubs competing for the Brazilian title is nothing new for those who, in the last ten editions of the championship, have taken home the trophy seven times. What is striking is that, in the final stretch of the competition, São Paulo and Palmeiras, candidates to wear the sash on December 6th, have chosen themselves as their main rivals in the race for the title. In the final rounds, players from both teams engaged in brawls on the field, the club's president lost his composure after a refereeing error, and Palmeiras directors proclaimed themselves victims of a conspiracy that, lately, always seemed to favor them.
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"Of course, people have inclinations and desires, and they may wish for Flamengo to be champions. But this needs to be done lawfully, on the field. They won't take this title away from São Paulo with a heavy hand. If they didn't want our team to be champions again, they should have warned us at the start of the championship," raged Carlos Augusto de Barros e Silva, known as Leco, São Paulo's vice president, referring to the three-game suspensions received by Jean, Borges, and Dagoberto for their red cards in the draw with Grêmio, confirmed yesterday by the Superior Court of Justice (STJD), which denied the club's request for a stay of execution.
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From the first sign of emotional breakdown by Palmeiras president Luiz Gonzaga Belluzzo, who promised to slap referee Carlos Eugênio Simon for disallowing a legitimate goal against Fluminense, to the final, unbelievable exchange of aggression between defender Maurício and forward Obina at halftime of the game against Grêmio, to the fight between Hugo and André Dias during São Paulo's victory over Vitória, Palmeiras practically said goodbye to its title dreams. Yesterday, the day after the episode at the Olympic Stadium, Maurício and Obina, fired for cause while still in the locker room, left Porto Alegre alone. Maurício, who spent the night crying, explained the incident:
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- It all started with the goal. Obina came to take the shot from me, and I took it from him too. In the situation, both were in the wrong. There was a change of voice, and one of them cursed at the other. It was a nervous moment, a moment of wanting to win, and this ended up happening. We've talked and apologized. We're friends off the field, and everything is fine.
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\ Yesterday, it was also the day for São Paulo coach Ricardo\ Gomes to give his opinion on the controversial decision of the STJD, which took Jean, Borges\ and Dagoberto out of at least the matches against Botafogo.
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"It doesn't add up. I haven't found a single article in favor of the Court's decision," Gomes lamented. "I can't even really say what I think. Poor Milton (Cruz, Gomes's assistant) and Marco (Aurélio Cunha, superintendent), who were in front of me. If I'm here today to speak with everything planned out, that's why. If I come to speak from the heart, I'll get 200 years."
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\ To make matters worse, André Dias and Hugo are expected to be charged in court based on\ TV images. Ricardo said he no longer counts on them.

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FLA BASKETBALL
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Flamengo travels to Londrina to face ADL/Sercomtel/Londrina today, starting at 21 p.m., in the opening round of the fourth round of the Brazilian Basketball Championship. Flamengo is aiming for its second championship title. Sportv will broadcast.

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SPORTS JOURNAL

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Maldonado is expected to be out for four months

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\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ Rio de Janeiro: Maldonado's injury is worse than expected. Like Nilmar, the Chilean player injured his cruciate ligament and is expected to be out for approximately four months. The injury occurred during Chile's international friendly against Slovakia.

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Precisely because the game is worth nothing, the red-black board is considering asking for compensation from the Chilean team, making them pay for the athlete's salary while he is recovering.

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The loss is only not greater because Andrade already has a natural replacement for his position: Toró, who will hold the position until the end of the championship, starting with the game against Goiás this Sunday at Maracanã. The team will consist of Bruno; Leonardo Moura, Álvaro, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Aírton, Toró, Willians and Petkovic; Zé Roberto and Adriano

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David shows all his resentment against Palmeiras

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Rio de Janeiro:The fight between Obina and Maurício is still causing a stir. This time, a longtime Palmeiras fan acquaintance, Flamengo's David, expressed his solidarity with the two Palmeiras players who exchanged blows at the end of the first half in Wednesday's match against Grêmio. The defender wrote on Twitter that the decision to fire the players was to justify the club's unfavorable form in the Brazilian Championship. In the defender's opinion, they are already being punished by "their own conscience."
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David fought with the São Paulo club's football directors and managed to get permission to sign a contract with another club, Panathinaikos in Greece. However, Palmeiras managed to reverse the situation and prevented the player from continuing to wear the Flamengo jersey. Still on the mini blog, the young defender expressed his discontent with everything that happened, saying, "I'm thankful that today I'm at Flamengo."

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THE DAY

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Adriano: 'The Brazilian title will be my peak'

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Adriano reveals that he dreams about Flamengo's sixth title every night, says that turning things around is difficult and remembers his time as a fan without money in the favela

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BY\ JANIR JUNIOR

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Rio - Every night, Adriano goes to sleep thinking about the Brazilian title. The difficult moments in his career, the loneliness and depression in Italy, the return to Brazil, and the 40 days away from football are no longer nightmares. But, not even in his wildest dreams did the striker imagine that he would be close to his footballing peak, as he himself defines it, if Flamengo wins the Brazilian Championship. From the difficult times of his childhood in Vila Cruzeiro — when, penniless, he watched the Rubro-Negro's games on a television in the favela bar — to the present day, much has changed, except one: the desire to make history at the club he belongs to. fan since he was born.

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"Winning this title will be the pinnacle of my career," Adriano confessed, illustrating what things have been like since Flamengo entered the fight for its sixth championship. "Every time I go to bed, I think about this a lot. It would be very important for me on this journey. I never imagined this could happen. Turning things around is difficult, and I have to be proud of that."

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Pride, when Adriano was still a child, was often not felt in the stands of Maracanã.

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&8220;I didn't always have money to go to the games, so I watched them on TV in the favela bar&8221;,\ recalls the player, who never cared about superstition: &8220;I believe in God,\ and not that a shirt, flip-flops or shorts can bring luck&8221;.

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From fan, Adriano became a player, and was also criticized young at Flamengo, he transferred to Europe, returned to his red-black home and today, gunner of the Brazilian Championship with 19 goals, makes a comparison between cheering and playing. The promise of a Sunday of sun, beach and a packed Maracanã is now seen not as fun by the Emperor.

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"Off the field, the excitement isn't as great as on it. As a player, I get anxious, I want to get the first ball right away, get a feel for the game. And I have more responsibility."

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End of doubts about the team

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Adriano reiterated that he hopes Botafogo will take points from São Paulo in Sunday's game. The striker, however, emphasizes that Flamengo needs to do its part and win. For him, team has already proven its worth. "Our team went up, down, was criticized, and we were upset. Then came the fight to get into the top four. Now, it's the title. In football, you should never doubt anyone," he adds. Adriano is real proof of that.

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Adriano: 'I think about the Brazilian title every night before I go to sleep'

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BY\ JANIR JUNIOR

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Rio - The Emperor has a dream that could become a reality on December 6th: the sixth Brazilian championship. This Friday, in interview press conference after training at Ninho do Urubu, Adriano said he always thinks about the title before going to sleep.
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\ "No football fans you should never doubt anyone. Our team went up, down and we were upset with the criticism. Now we are fighting for the title, which would be something very important in my journey here at Fla. I think about the Brazilian title every night before I go to sleep", said the Emperor.

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Maldonado will have to have knee surgery and will be out for at least four months.

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BY\ JANIR JUNIOR

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Rio - Midfielder Maldonado was examined this Thursday by the team's doctor Flamengo and the Brazilian National Team, José Luís Runco, and an injury to the ligaments in the player's left knee was confirmed. As a result, the Chilean will undergo surgery on Sunday and will be out of action for four to six months, leaving the red-black team out, including in the Campeonato Carioca.

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"Maldonado is sad, but aware that this is a risk in a player's career. He will have surgery on Sunday and the most important thing will be the post-operative period, which will be a job for the whole team and for him as well," said Runco.

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Upon learning of the severity of the injury, the deputy football fans, Marcos Braz, lamented.
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\"It's a shame, it was a player in which we invested and which will have to remain idle for a long time," he said.
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\ On the eve of the exam, the director had already said that he would appeal to FIFA so that the\ Chilean Federation would pay the player's salary during his recovery, since\ Maldonado was injured playing a friendly match for Chile.

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Fla is ready to welcome Obina back with open arms

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BY\ JANIR JUNIOR

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Rio - And the Black Angel must return to Gávea. After the incident with defender Maurício, this Wednesday, which resulted in his dismissal from Palmeiras, Obina could reappear at Flamengo in 2010. This Thursday, one day after the confusion, the vice-president of football fans red-black, Marcos Braz, said that the player will be welcomed into the club with open arms in January.
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\ Despite the receptiveness, the manager said that it is not the time\ to think about that, since the team is fighting for the Brazilian title. For Braz, if the\ contract of attacker is terminated by Palmeiras, he will be on vacation.

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"Now is not the time to discuss this, we have to be careful not to make a fuss. But in January, Fla, which has always welcomed him very well, will have its doors open to him," said Braz.

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Toró, one of Obina's best friends, also commented on the episode.

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"I was surprised, because Obina is a mother. He's a very calm guy and, for him to have had that reaction, it must have been something very serious. But that doesn't erase everything he's done in football," said the midfielder.

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Obina's loan to Palmeiras would end on December 31st. The contract with the red-black team goes until the same day, but in 2010.

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Álvaro asks for attention with striker Fernandão

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Rio\ - In good form in the red-black defense, defender Álvaro recognized that\ Flamengo must be careful with the attacker Fernadão. On Sunday, at 19:30 p.m., at Maracanã, team da Gávea receives Goiás dreaming of leading the Brazilian Championship and the Hexacampeonato.

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"Fernadão is an excellent header and has good timing on the ball, he always protects plays well and is a very complete player. With him, Goiás is very motivated to face us. But, crowd will fill the Maracanã to push Flamengo, we will certainly seek a good result", said the defender to Rede Brasil.

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For Álvaro, the drop in performance of the Goiás team in the second round of the Brasileirão is normal, as Brazilian players have a greater workload games than the Europeans. "It is very clear that at the end of the season performance drops because the athletes are required to do a lot, more so than in Europe," he said.

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The defender also sought to downplay the absence of Chilean Maldonado, who suffered a left knee injury in Chile's friendly against Germany. Álvaro believes Toró will be able to maintain the team's strong midfield performance. "Maldonado has become an important player between the defensive line and the attack. We don't yet know the severity of the injury, but we're sure Toró will be able to handle it," he concluded.

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SPORTS GAZETTE

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Former Palmeiras player, David criticizes the board for dismissing Obina and Maurício

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\ Rio de Janeiro - RJ)

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Revealed by Palmeiras, defender David, currently at Flamengo, did not hide his resentment towards his former club. This Thursday, the player harshly criticized the board's attitude. green and white in dismissing Obina and Maurício, after exchanging\ aggressions during half-time of the 2-0 defeat to Grêmio, in a match valid for the\ 36th round of the Brazilian Championship. Through his Twitter, the athlete stated that the top of the Verdao sought to 'appear' in this case.

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"And now they want to appear, sending away two players who has already helped (sic) Palmeiras", he criticized on the micro-blog, before declaring support for the two Verdão players.

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The feud between David and the Palmeiras It began at the beginning of the year, when the defender obtained an injunction that invalidated his commitment to the club. Released by the court, the player transferred to Panathinaikos, in Greece, in the winter transfer window (Europe).

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After a six-month stint on the Old Continent, David returned to Brazil and ended up being loaned to Flamengo. However, Palmeiras tried to block the defender's contract with the red-and-black club, preventing him from making his debut for the Gávea club. After two weeks of confusion, the defender finally made his debut for Andrade's team in the match against Corinthians on August 18th at Maracanã, in the XNUMXth round of the Brasileirão.

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Maldonado will undergo surgery and will be out for six months

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\ Gazeta Press - Rio de Janeiro (RJ)

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Chilean midfielder Maldonado received a terrible treatment this Thursday news article. O player Flamengo, who was injured in his national team's friendly match against Slovakia in the middle of the week, underwent an imaging test which revealed a rupture of the cruciate ligaments in his knee.

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Maldonado arrived in Rio de Janeiro this morning and met in the afternoon with the doctor of the club, José Luiz Runco. After learning of the severity of the injury, the doctor scheduled the player's surgery for this Sunday. The expected return to the field is at least six months.

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The Chilean federation\ informed the Flamengo which is open to discuss matters related to the player, as Maldonado is now in doubt for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

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Flamengo shows concern about Goiás' attack

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\ Gazeta Press - Rio de Janeiro (RJ)

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Still in the fight for the Brazilian Championship title, Flamengo is the favorite for next Sunday's match at 17 p.m. (Brasília time) against Goiás at the Maracanã. However, this doesn't mean the Rio de Janeiro team will have an easy time against the Goiás team. This is the thinking of coach Andrade and the Flamengo players, who are clearly concerned about the Esmeraldino's attacking strength.

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"Goiás is a very good team in all sectors, especially from midfield forward, as it has a lot of quality players. Iarley, Fernandão and Felipe, in short, the players who come onto the field will need to be very well marked so as not to end up making things difficult for us," warned Andrade.

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And the Rio team's concern makes sense. Despite going eight rounds without a win, Goiás has the second-best attack in the Brazilian Championship (along with Inter), with 58 goals scored, four fewer than Inter.

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Esmeraldino coach Hélio dos Anjos has not yet confirmed the starting lineup for the team that will face Flamengo. However, Iarley, who started as a substitute against Santo André but came on later in the game and helped Esmeralino win 3-1, is expected to return to the starting lineup, forming the front three with Felipe and Fernandão.

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"Regardless of who Hélio dos Anjos chooses, we will have a lot of problems containing Goiás' offensive strength. Their players have a lot of quality, speed and they move very well. So much so that Flamengo struggled a lot in the first leg and ended up losing 3-1. But we really want to keep fighting for the title and winning this game is essential, despite the difficulties," said defender Ronaldo Angelim.

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Defender Álvaro has already played alongside Fernandão when he was managed by Hélio dos Anjos himself at Goiás. That's why he doesn't expect things to be easy.

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"Fernandão is an excellent header, who has a great time ball "It's very good and something that concerns us greatly. Certainly, with all his experience, he's already studied our style of scoring and will do everything he can to find the net. Besides, many are saying that Goiás lacks motivation, but I know Hélio dos Anjos well and I know that's not true. My training as a player is heavily influenced by Hélio's teachings, and I know he knows how to get the most out of his players," warned Álvaro.

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For this Sunday's clash, Flamengo has already been decided. Left-back Juan, who served a suspension in the 2-0 victory over Nautical, reappears in vacancy of defender David.

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In this way, Ronaldo Angelim, who played as a makeshift left winger, returns to the defense to form a duo with Álvaro. Defensive midfielder Toró is confirmed in place of Maldonado, who was injured for the Chilean national team in the friendly against Slovakia.

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The severity of the Chilean midfielder's injury should be announced by Flamengo's medical department this Friday, as Maldonado only returned to the club this Thursday, when he returned to Brazil.

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Thus, Flamengo will take to the field this Sunday with the following formation: Bruno, Leonardo Moura, Ronaldo Angelim, Álvaro and Juan; Aírton, Willians, Toró and Petkovic; Zé Roberto and Adriano.

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STJD denies appeal and maintains suspensions of Borges, Dagoberto and Jean

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\ Rio de Janeiro - RJ)

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São Paulo's victory at the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) lasted just over three hours. After announcing early Thursday evening that Borges, Dagoberto, and Jean would be released for Sunday's match against Botafogo, the court definitively overturned the suspension of the players and upheld the three-match penalty for the Morumbi trio, which could be overturned next Thursday, when the full court will judge them. Therefore, the three players will not face the Rio de Janeiro team.

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São Paulo tried to speed up the release of the athletes due to the fact that there was no business at the STJD on Friday, which would prevent the three from being selected. players for the match against Botafogo. However, according to Article 53 of the Pelé Law, in the fourth paragraph, the suspension only occurs after the second game of the suspension. Dagoberto, Borges, and Jean have served their automatic suspensions until then and could only return to the field in the penultimate round of the Brasileirão, against Goiás.

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São Paulo's legal department justified the request for a stay of execution by claiming that there were no mitigating factors in the trial, even criticizing the fact that the authors increased the sentence due to Dagoberto's smile after the expulsion, classifying the act as mockery. The Tricolor stated that the judges were ultimately induced by comments from the television station responsible for broadcasting the match in front of Grêmio, valid for the 34th round of the Brazilian Championship.

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The president of the commission,\ Mário Antônio Couto, said during the session that he might acquit Dagoberto,\ if attacker cried. But, judging by the smile in the images, he voted for a four-match suspension for number 25. On the other hand, Borges had his sentence 'lightened' by the court. Accused of "physical aggression," number 17 had his article disqualified for "hostile act," which resulted in three games to the center forward.

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Jean, in turn, ended up being reported for "disloyalty" for committing a hard foul on midfielder Souza.

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PELENET

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From Greece, Zico praises Flamengo's "stars" and rules out taking over the club's football career

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Cauê\Rademaker
\ In Rio de Janeiro

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Distance doesn't stop the greatest idol in Flamengo's history from following and cheering for his beloved club in this final stretch of the Brazilian Championship. Even without being able to watch most of the games, Zico gives glowing praise to Adriano, Petkovic, and especially Andrade.

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EVEN FROM FAR AWAY, ZICO\ BETS ON FLA

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Zico says he always saw potential in Andrade to become a great coach and praised Adriano

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Far from politics, Zico says he is happy in Greece and stated that he intends to continue as a coach

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A former teammate of the current Flamengo coach, Galinho says he always saw potential in Andrade to become a great coach. He even recalled giving his friend an opportunity with the CFZ youth team.
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When it comes to politics, Zico 'doesn't do anything'. Satisfied with his time at the helm of Olympiacos, he stated that he intends to continue his coaching career and ruled out the possibility of taking over the Gávea club any time soon.
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\ However, a benefactor of Rubro-Negro, the eternal Flamengo idol has been following the electoral process, which will end on December 7th, when the election will be held to announce the new leader.
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\ UOL Esporte: In 1982, you finished the Brazilian Championship as the top scorer. It was the last time Flamengo had the competition's top scorer. Now, Adriano could break that streak. How do you assess Adriano's importance to this Flamengo team?
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\ Zico: Adriano is a great player and is being crucial for Flamengo, doing exactly what was expected of him. I'm very happy because his performance is helping the team in its fight for the national title.
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\ UOL Esporte: Flamengo last won the Brazilian Championship in 1992. In all of the club's national titles, the large number of homegrown players was striking. Of the current starting lineup, only Adriano was developed at Gávea. To what do you attribute this?
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\ Zico: Flamengo has changed a lot over the years, as has Brazilian football, and players leave clubs before even reaching the top team. I think this may also have to do with the talent pool, as Andrade himself said in an interview I read. But among the reserves, there are young players who could eventually establish themselves on the team. I believe these two factors weigh more heavily.
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\ UOL Esporte: Andrade took over Flamengo midway through the Brazilian Championship and managed to keep them competitive and fighting for the title in this final stretch, already being considered one of the best coaches in the Brasileirão. When you were a player, did you see Andrade as a future coach?
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\ Zico: Look, I thought about it so much that I was the first to give him a chance at CFZ as a youth coach way back when. Andrade is a sensational guy, intelligent, with a great understanding of the game and a deep understanding of Flamengo. I'm happy with his success. Besides setting a standard for the team, he managed to bring back players who had lost faith in the club.

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UOL\Sports: At 37 years old, Petkovic has been making a difference in Flamengo's favor, but he arrived surrounded by suspicion. Do you consider him a rare player in today's football scene, given that he is a classic midfielder?
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\ Zico: There's no doubt about it. Petkovic is a special player who, in the current Brazilian football landscape, has found the conditions to excel. Because of his gift for set pieces, he's decided many matches for Flamengo. He's highly intelligent and a fan favorite thanks to his time at the club.
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\ UOL Esporte: You're far from Brazil. How have you been following the Brasileirão games? Is there a team you consider the favorite to win the title?
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\ Zico: I'm watching the games that are broadcast here live, but unfortunately, it hasn't been Flamengo's. I've already seen that betting on the favorite is a huge risk. I'm rooting for Flamengo, as always, but the big problem is that it's not entirely up to them. I think São Paulo and Palmeiras are the others in the running.
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\ UOL Esporte: Virtually all of Flamengo's presidential candidates say it would be an honor to have you leading the club's football team and that the doors of Gávea are open to you. Has anyone officially approached you to invite you to join a future administration? Would you be interested?
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\ Zico: I'm not even thinking about that right now. I'm fully focused on my work at Olympiacos, following the club's electoral process as a benefactor and a fan, but without considering that possibility. I'm a professional, and I work at Olympiacos today. I hope whoever wins does a great job of reviving the club.

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Adriano sees the Brazilian title with Flamengo as the pinnacle of his career

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Raphael\Fox
\ In Rio de Janeiro

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The possibility of Flamengo becoming Brazilian champions is real. So much so that fans and players are already celebrating this title. Adriano, who returned to the Red-Blacks this year after a long stint in European football, believes that the victory would represent something special in his successful career. The striker even stated this Thursday that the trophy would represent his peak.

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The celebration could be doubly victorious for the Emperor because\ besides being able to lift the trophy, he has the possibility of being the top scorer in the\ national competition. At the moment he is the top scorer. The player has found the\ opposing nets on 19 occasions.
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"If Flamengo wins the Brazilian championship, this could be considered the pinnacle of my career. Turning things around is very difficult. I never imagined it would be this good. I returned to the club to regain my joy and I can be champion and top scorer," said the player.
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Adriano returned to Brazilian football after reaching an agreement with Inter Milan. The player asked to leave the Italian club because he was suffering from depression and returned to Brazil. At the time, he called a press conference to announce that he was temporarily leaving football. Shortly thereafter, however, he signed with Flamengo.
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\"There is a big difference between the Adriano of before and the Adriano of now.\ I have an inexplicable satisfaction in being able to honor this shirt and the club",\ he said.
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\ Commenting on the fight for the trophy, the player acknowledged that São Paulo,\ the main team in the fight, needs to stumble. In his view, the best time for this to happen will be in the next round because Botafogo needs\ a victory to move away from the bottom positions.
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"Regarding São Paulo, if there's a wheel for them to stumble on, it's this one. I'm sure they'll have a lot of difficulty because Botafogo really needs to win. Football is strange and you can't doubt anyone. An example of this is that few people believed in us and we're in second place," he concluded.

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Flamengo director downplays statements made by São Paulo's vice president of football

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Raphael\Fox
\ In Rio de Janeiro

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São Paulo's vice president of football, Carlos Augusto de Barros e Silva, was clear this Thursday morning, warning that the São Paulo club will not lose the Brazilian Championship title "by force." These statements, of course, were echoed at Flamengo. However, contrary to what everyone expected, the club's vice president of football, Marcos Braz, downplayed the incident.

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São Paulo's board of directors does not believe that the club will lose this year's national title to the 'big hand'

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"I understand why he said that. He's doing his job based on the position he holds. I don't have much to say about that. He's defending São Paulo's interests," Marcos Braz concluded.
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With 62 points, São Paulo leads the Brazilian Championship. With 60, Flamengo is right behind. A draw for the São Paulo team with Botafogo and a victory for the Rubro-Negro over Goiás on Sunday at 19:30 p.m. (Brasília time) at the Maracanã stadium would be enough for the Rio de Janeiro team to finish the 36th round at the top of the competition.
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For the match against Goiás, coach Andrade will be without Chilean midfielder Maldonado, who is injured. In fact, the player is expected to return to the field in six months. In his place, Toró, who already started against Náutico, remains in the starting lineup.
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\ In this way, if no problems occur until Sunday,\ Flamengo will enter the field with the following formation: Bruno; Leonardo Moura,\ Álvaro, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Aírton, Toró, Willians and Petkovic; Zé Roberto and\ Adriano.

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Exam confirms severity, and Maldonado could be out for up to six months

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Raphael\Fox
\ In Rio de Janeiro

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What many feared was confirmed this Thursday. After an examination, Flamengo's medical department confirmed that Maldonado's left knee injury is serious. The midfielder, who was injured during a friendly match for the Brazilian national team against Slovakia, could be out for four to six months.

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SEE MALDONADO'S INJURY

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The midfielder injured his cruciate ligament and will have surgery on Sunday at the private clinic of the Rio de Janeiro club's head of medical department, José Luiz Runco. The professional stated that this type of injury is serious, but does not lead to retirement, as has happened in the past. He recalled that Nilmar, from Villareal in the state of Espírito Santo, went through a similar situation.
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"Injuries that have stopped a number of athletes are not treated with such seriousness these days. I can give the example of Nilmar, who had a problem like this in both knees and returned to action," said the doctor, who commented on Maldonado's feelings. "He is sad, but he knows that it is part of his profession to have an injury like this," he added.
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Visibly upset by the situation, Flamengo's vice president of football, Marcos Braz, reaffirmed that the club intends to receive some form of compensation from the Chilean Federation. His idea is for the association to cover the athlete's salary.
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"Our first step will be to have a friendly conversation with the Chilean Federation. We will talk to the doctors and relevant people from the organization. Our proposal would be for them to pay the player's salary, as he will not be able to play for Flamengo. In any case, this situation is being handed over to the club president (Márcio Braga) so that he can make contacts abroad," said the director.
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\ Without Maldonado, coach Andrade has already decided that Toró will continue as a starter for\ Sunday's match against Goiás, at 19:30 pm (Brasília time), at\ Maracanã, for the 36th round of the Brazilian Championship.
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\ Therefore, if there are no problems until Sunday, Flamengo will enter the\ field to face Goiás with the following formation: Bruno; Leonardo Moura,\ Álvaro, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Aírton, Toró, Willians and Petkovic; Zé Roberto and\ Adriano.

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Confirmed on the bench, Kleberson bets on 'protection' to help Flamengo

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Cauê\Rademaker
\ In Rio de Janeiro

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Sidelined since August, when he injured his right shoulder in a friendly with the Brazilian national team, midfielder Kleberson is confirmed to be on the bench for Sunday's match against Goiás. To thrive after a long layoff, the midfielder is banking on resilience and the protective equipment he has been using on the injured area.

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During training last Wednesday, the player participated normally, avoiding collisions and sharing the balls. He had a rubber pad on his back at all times, which gave him more confidence.
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"I feel more comfortable with this protection. It makes me more confident when it comes to tackling and taking a fall. I don't want to take unnecessary risks in collisions," said the midfielder.
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Kleberson admits he wouldn't be able to play the full 90 minutes and says he's at a lower level than the others due to his lack of rhythm. However, the midfielder believes he can contribute in this decisive final stretch of the Brazilian Championship and doesn't want to be labeled as a replacement for Maldonado, who injured his knee and could miss the rest of the competition.
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"I'm not Maldonado's replacement. He was in good form, always playing and getting the job done. On my part, willpower will be worth it. I really want to help the team at this decisive moment," said the player.
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With 60 points, Flamengo is just two behind leaders São Paulo. The Rubro-Negro plays this Sunday at 19:30 pm against Goiás, while the São Paulo Tricolor faces Botafogo on the same day at Engenhão at 17 pm.

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São Paulo says it will not lose in a "big hand" and points to Fla's strength behind the scenes

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Bruno\ Thadeu
\ In Sao Paulo

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São Paulo's board of directors claims to respect behind-the-scenes decisions and will appeal rulings against the club, but believes third-party interests are influencing the STJD's decisions. The message is aimed at Flamengo, a Brazilian title contender.

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São Paulo's board of directors does not believe that the club will lose this year's national title to the 'big hand'

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São Paulo's vice president of football, Carlos Augusto de Barros e Silva, fears that Flamengo will gain support from the Court and the CBF in this final stretch of the Brazilian Championship. Despite this comment, Silva declares that the São Paulo team will not lose the title "by force."
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"People [who judge] have desires, wishes, interests. But this needs to be done legally, on the field. They won't take this title away from us with a heavy hand. We won't be influenced by this pressure. São Paulo grows in these times. If they didn't want São Paulo to win, they should have told us right at the start of the championship," the director said ironically, in contact with the press this Thursday, at CT da Barra Funda.
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On Wednesday, Borges, Dagoberto, and Jean were each suspended for three games. Silva considered the suspension given to Jean to be abusive, questioning the STJD's decisions.
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"Flamengo may be interested in being champions. They're a massive team. We're afraid something might happen off the field," he said. "But Jean's punishment was absurd. I'm not questioning the integrity of the court, but how he could have received the same punishment as Borges." On Thursday afternoon, however, São Paulo achieved a suspensive effect\ and will be able to count on all three players in the match against Botafogo on Sunday.
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For the games against Goiás and Sport, São Paulo hopes to count on André Dias and Hugo, who clashed during the match against Vitória. For Silva, the friction is nothing like the dispute involving Obina and Maurício, from Palmeiras.
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"With Obina, there was physical aggression. In the case of André Dias and Hugo, there was a disagreement. Something completely different. We are not afraid of losing them."
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\ Suspended, Hugo and André Dias will not face Botafogo, Sunday, at Engenhão.

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GLOBOESPORTE

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