Former goalkeeper compared this year's victory over São Paulo to that of 1982

Lance\ Raul with the shirt of the club with which he won the Interclub World Cup (Credit: Julio César Guimarães)\ Fred Gomes\

Given Flamengo's excellent form, Raul Plasmann, the club's goalkeeper from 1978 to 1983, compared the club's 1-0 victory over São Paulo in this Brazilian Championship to the sensational 3-2 comeback against Tricolor Paulista in 1982, a match that began Flamengo's six-game winning streak that year, earning its second Brasileirão title. Furthermore, the former Flamengo No. 1 still considers the Gávea club destined for the title, as, according to Raul, the match against the current championship leader came at a very opportune time.

"The situation is identical to that of 1982, as it occurred at a decisive moment. The victory over Náutico—2-1 in the club's return to Maracanã after the Pan American Games—represented a morale boost. After that and other great victories, São Paulo emerged with the title in hand. The best thing in the world was São Paulo appearing, because Flamengo had the Brazilian champions in front of them and could deliver a blow. It was everything Flamengo needed, and with this victory, they were filled with morale and beat their chests, saying, "I'm alive and I'm going to make it!"—they enthuse.

Regarding Flamengo's 3-2 victory over São Paulo, achieved in their debut in the 1982 Brasileirão, Raul considers that triumph a strong indication that the trophy would end up in Gávea. On that occasion, the more than 85 Flamengo fans in attendance at Maracanã saw Flamengo go into halftime trailing 2-0, but the final score was 3-2, thanks to a show by Zico, who scored two stunning goals.

"There are victories and victories. Often, you win the game, but you don't get the impression that the team can hold out until the end. On the other hand, there are triumphs where the fans look at it and say, 'This team is going to be champions.' The comeback against São Paulo was a reflection of Flamengo's great team. We won in a difficult situation, against a good team, and went into the locker room losing 2-0. At the end of the game, you see it's 3-2 to Flamengo, and you draw the conclusion: 'You can make it 2-0, but we're the champions,'" he explains.

Returning to the reality of today's Flamengo, Raul says that, although these players are not stars like those of his generation, they make the fans proud to be Flamengo.

"This team represents an identification with the club, with the jersey. When you don't have a team like the one from '80, you have to transform that lack of technical ability into grit, combining it with other ingredients. And this is exactly what Flamengo provides its players. Seeing those flags in the stands honoring the 1981 World Cup champions, the players receive them with great energy and accept them very well. They could see this tribute as an insult, like: only those guys play football and the current ones are nothing. However, it has become an extra strength, and this team has restored to the fans the pride of being red-and-black, taking much from where it doesn't exist, drawing strength from Flamengo itself."

Finally, the former goalkeeper says that Flamengo should dream not only of qualifying for the Libertadores, but also of winning the most important competition in South America:

- Flamengo should dream of the Libertadores and winning it, because nowadays it is much easier than in our time.