All the anticipation and euphoria generated across the country by the Brazilian national team's call-up to the World Cup in South Africa hasn't taken Flamengo's focus away from the Copa Libertadores, considered the most important competition of the year. This Wednesday (May 11.05), Flamengo hosts Universidad de Chile at Maracanã in a quarterfinal match. After a conversation with the coaching staff before Tuesday's training session, the group demonstrated their motivation to advance in the tournament.

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Rubro-Negro football manager Isaias Tinoco led the meeting in the center of one of the Ninho do Urubu pitches and emphasized to the players the importance of the Libertadores Cup for the club. Although pleased with Kleberson's call-up, the manager assured that there was no time for the player to celebrate too much, nor for the national team players who weren't called up to lament.

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"There's no time to celebrate or lament. Tomorrow, we have the most important game of the year for Flamengo. I'm friends with Dunga and Jorginho, who was my player, but the World Cup here is the Libertadores and there are six games left to win the title," Isaias told the players.

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The "professor," as Isaías is called, also used the excellent ticket sales figures to motivate the players. Maracanã will be packed this Wednesday, and now is the time to give even more so that the Red-Black team can get the result it needs.

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"I'm counting on everyone to work hard. Of course, if someone says they're not feeling well, we won't take them to the game, but I talked to them and told them that tickets are already sold out and that this is our time," he added.

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After speaking with the football manager, the players began another training session ahead of the match against La"U." Coach Rogério Lourenço spoke with the group and then led a tactical drill.