The saying goes, "Flamengo makes stars at home." And with so many stars coming from the Flamengo youth academy throughout history, the professionals responsible for the Rubro-Negro's polished young players work hard to maintain this tradition. Today, the Mais Querido has athletes in its youth academy who have been called up to the Brazilian national teams in their respective age groups and have a promising future. And part of the job of managing this work falls to Zé Ricardo, coach of the under-20 team.

The red-and-black coach's men have just won the Guanabara Cup in their category, are fighting for the lead in the Rio Cup, and will debut next Wednesday (June 03.06) in the Brazilian Junior Championship. The Club's Official Website spoke with Zé Ricardo before the first challenge in the national under-20 championship to learn more about the team and the work being done with the qualified group of athletes. Check out the exclusive interview:

Official Website: What are the coaching staff's expectations for the U-20 Brasileirão?

Joe Ricardo: Expectations are high. We know the 20 teams are strong, and we've been drawn into a very tough group, with Grêmio, Corinthians, Vitória, and Coritiba, clubs with a strong youth team tradition. We're certain it'll be a tough competition; predicting the two teams that qualify is a bit difficult. Of course, we'll play to try to qualify, but it's a high-level competition. I think we're doing well; we're having a good time, despite missing players from the national team, some of whom are also in Flamengo's first team. We have high expectations, but we know we have to be cautious because every game will be tough, and every detail will make a difference.

What are the challenges of managing a group that competes in two long-term competitions simultaneously - Taça Rio and Brasileirão?

Way back when we were assembling the squad, we were already telling them this was going to happen. Winning the Guanabara Cup was crucial for us to implement our plan, which we had already decided to rotate some players and rest them for the most important matches. We've managed to do that now, in the first five rounds of the Rio Cup. And the players performed very well, we're in a position to fight for the top spot in the Rio Cup with Botafogo, so we believe they're ready to go through this, because they know that when you reach the junior category, everyone has to be in playing condition. We've managed to give them playing time so they're up to speed, and we hope that makes a difference.

When you took over, the U-20 team had recently suffered a defeat in a derby and was going through a difficult period. Under your leadership, the team won the 2014 Octávio Pinto Guimarães Tournament and the 2015 Guanabara Cup, is competing for the Rio Cup, and is achieving good results. What do you consider to be the main change you brought to the team that helped it achieve this turnaround?

The core of the cast is the same. I think a few pieces have changed, but the foundation is the same. What we tried to do was reassure them. We noticed the group was a little anxious about what was happening, which was really getting in the way. I think the change in environment was the main factor in allowing us to work more calmly. Logically, with the results coming in, it's better for us to follow the plan we had already established.

One thing fans like and want to know about is the integration between the categories. How is this transition handled today—both from the lower categories to the U-20s and from the U-20s to the professional ranks?

Integration happens automatically. We work on the field alongside the professional team at the same times. This is a rule established by management so that not only could the players see examples when they see our professional team, but we could also support the kids. This makes things much easier, because with them being close to the professional team, we hold them accountable daily on and off the field. They realize that players who don't take care of themselves on and off the field have less chance of success. We invested in training, creating a culture where training is more important than the game itself, because it ends up being part of the game. If you train well, you're also very likely to play well. We've been demanding high rhythm and intensity in training from the beginning, and that's also helped. Our coordination, led by Léo Inácio (for the juniors) and Cadu Borges (for the lower categories), works in a fully integrated manner; they even share the same room, so it's very easy for us when we need to use a player from a lower category. Just as proximity to the professional team makes things easier when they need it. As you can see, they've started using more youth players in the professional team. I think this opportunity to work, play professionally, and gain more visibility at the national level is crucial. I believe this was one of the points the CBF took into account when it called up two of our players for the U-20 World Cup.

Finally, how do you view the participation of two players you work and coach with in the World Cup? Do you see it as recognition of the work done by you and the entire Flamengo coaching staff?

It's definitely a job for all of us; one thing leads to another. This was also something we demonstrated to the players and made them aware of. One thing would lead to another. I'm very happy to see the boys there; we showed that we, the coaching staff, are here to facilitate their achievement of their goals. I'm very happy to see them there; I think they have a chance of playing in the World Cup, and it will be a great experience for them.