Dispute on two fronts
After advancing in the Copa do Brasil, Flamengo's under-20s become key to the OPG Tournament
By Communication - Official Club Website - in
Last Wednesday (September 11.09), Flamengo's under-20 team defeated Portuguesa 2-0 and advanced to the round of 14.09 of the Copa do Brasil. Just three days later, the challenge will be for another championship. This Saturday (September 15), the Mais Querido will face Duque de Caxias, in Gávea, at XNUMX pm, in the third round of the Otávio Pinto Guimarães Tournament (OPG). Despite the group's great desire to win the national competition, coach Cleber dos Santos is not worried that the athletes will stop paying attention to the OPG.
"In fact, we need to work on this shift: turning one side off and the other on all the time. Winning the OPG's third championship is very important to us. After the match against Portuguesa ended, some players came to me and told me they wanted to play against Duque de Caxias. I thought this was really cool, as it shows they care about the tournament. We play with the same intensity in both competitions, especially since our main goal is to get our players in good shape for the professional level," explained the red-and-black coach.
In OPG's last match, against Serra Macaense, Cleber rested the starters, as the match against Portuguesa was four days later and to give all the players a chance. Flamengo won't play in the middle of next week for the Copa do Brasil, but the coach is expected to give the reserve players another chance.
"The idea is to mix up the team, put some players on the field so they continue to have opportunities. Besides, the game against Portuguesa was very exhausting due to the size of the field and the strong sun in Bangu," he concluded.
"In fact, we need to work on this shift: turning one side off and the other on all the time. Winning the OPG's third championship is very important to us. After the match against Portuguesa ended, some players came to me and told me they wanted to play against Duque de Caxias. I thought this was really cool, as it shows they care about the tournament. We play with the same intensity in both competitions, especially since our main goal is to get our players in good shape for the professional level," explained the red-and-black coach.
In OPG's last match, against Serra Macaense, Cleber rested the starters, as the match against Portuguesa was four days later and to give all the players a chance. Flamengo won't play in the middle of next week for the Copa do Brasil, but the coach is expected to give the reserve players another chance.
"The idea is to mix up the team, put some players on the field so they continue to have opportunities. Besides, the game against Portuguesa was very exhausting due to the size of the field and the strong sun in Bangu," he concluded.