Elias fan, Caio Quiroga plays modern football in the juniors
The player himself and his under-20 coach prefer to define him as a midfielder, rather than a defensive midfielder, as Caio is not limited to just marking
By Communication - Official Club Website - in
Gone are the days when defensive midfielders simply had to make tackles. Time has passed, football has changed, and today, players like Ramires and Elias, who attack as well as defend, are successful in this position. Flamengo's U-20 team features a player who follows this line: midfielder Caio Quiroga.
"In the past, defensive midfielders and defensive midfielders played mostly in the holding role, only occasionally going forward. Today, three midfielders play, who get forward and then come back in the same way they get forward. That's what Elias and Ramires do. They attack, but they also come back to mark and know how to play with the ball at their feet," explained Caio Quiroga.
Quiroga, as he is better known, is 19 years old and has been with Flamengo since 2004. With the Mais Querido's under-20 team, he has won the Otávio Pinto Guimarães Tournament twice and a Rio Cup. In 2013, he was named in the first team's squad for the Campeonato Carioca against Macaé. During the pickup game played the day before the match, the midfielder had the opportunity to share the field with one of his idols.
"I see Elias as a role model for someone who drops back to mark and goes on the attack. He plays modern football and is a very good player. I really admire his physical strength and intelligence. He defends and attacks in equal measure. That's what I try to do when I play," said Quiroga.
Since May 20th, Caio Quiroga, along with the entire junior squad, has been on vacation. When they return to Ninho do Urubu on June 24th, the players will begin preparing for an intense second half of the year. After all, the team will still compete in four competitions in 2013.
"Expectations are the best possible, as we did well in the last Campeonato Carioca despite being sloppy in the last game. We won a round undefeated (Taça Rio), but lost the title, which is something that happens in football. At the beginning of this semester, we will train very hard to reach the championship finals and win them," said Caio Quiroga.
"In the past, defensive midfielders and defensive midfielders played mostly in the holding role, only occasionally going forward. Today, three midfielders play, who get forward and then come back in the same way they get forward. That's what Elias and Ramires do. They attack, but they also come back to mark and know how to play with the ball at their feet," explained Caio Quiroga.
Quiroga, as he is better known, is 19 years old and has been with Flamengo since 2004. With the Mais Querido's under-20 team, he has won the Otávio Pinto Guimarães Tournament twice and a Rio Cup. In 2013, he was named in the first team's squad for the Campeonato Carioca against Macaé. During the pickup game played the day before the match, the midfielder had the opportunity to share the field with one of his idols.
"I see Elias as a role model for someone who drops back to mark and goes on the attack. He plays modern football and is a very good player. I really admire his physical strength and intelligence. He defends and attacks in equal measure. That's what I try to do when I play," said Quiroga.
Since May 20th, Caio Quiroga, along with the entire junior squad, has been on vacation. When they return to Ninho do Urubu on June 24th, the players will begin preparing for an intense second half of the year. After all, the team will still compete in four competitions in 2013.
"Expectations are the best possible, as we did well in the last Campeonato Carioca despite being sloppy in the last game. We won a round undefeated (Taça Rio), but lost the title, which is something that happens in football. At the beginning of this semester, we will train very hard to reach the championship finals and win them," said Caio Quiroga.