The expression "Elite Squad" in the red-and-black midfield became famous in 2007 when the team was still coached by Joel Santana. The nickname stuck due to the success of the film of the same name and was given due to the strong marking ability of that sector, which was formed by Romulo [later Jailton], Toró, Cristian and Ibson. However, the expression could be revived in 2009 with the quartet of defensive midfielders formed by: Maldonado, Airton, Willians and Toró.

\

And the numbers prove that this efficiency is crucial to Flamengo's surge in this edition of the Brasileirão, just as it was two years ago. Flamengo leads the rankings for ball steals in the 2009 Brazilian Championship, with 669. Just under a hundred more steals than second-place Palmeiras, which has 573, and more than a hundred more than São Paulo, which has 564 and is third. Interestingly, both are Flamengo's main rivals in the fight for its sixth Brazilian championship.

\

"These numbers show the quality of our work. Thank God everything is going well," celebrated midfielder Airton, in an exclusive interview with Flamengo's official website.

\

Much has been said about how Petkovic organized Flamengo's creative system. After all, with the Serbian starting, the team from Gávea is undefeated in the Brasileirão. However, another player who arrived and proved not only to be lucky but also to be a fundamental part of coach Andrade's scheme is Chilean Maldonado, highly praised by his teammates.

\

"Our midfield shows creativity and grit. Maldonado's arrival brought experience and a lot of quality as well," said reserve Toró.

\

The main reason for such effective dispossession is Willians. The number 8 is the top ball stealer in this season's Brazilian Championship. With 122 steals in 26 games, an average of almost five tackles per game, the defensive midfielder is a key player for the red-and-black team. He assures that he will continue to give his all for the team in the fight for its sixth championship title and also takes the opportunity to praise Maldonado, Álvaro, and Petkovic.

\

"It's good to know this information. I hope to continue helping the team with my performance on the field. Regarding Maldonado, not only he, but also Álvaro and Pet, are being important in the great second half of the Brazilian Championship," he analyzed.

\

Maldonado, in turn, appreciates the recognition from his teammates and fans, but assures that there's still a lot of work to be done in the next four rounds to keep Flamengo in the top four and, who knows, even fight for the title. According to him, the team is already well-rounded and, if they keep up the momentum, they can aim high.

\

"I appreciate the compliments, but finding a solid team when I arrived was crucial to my successful entry into the team. Flamengo has been demonstrating a strong style of play for quite some time now, and I want to continue contributing to that," he concluded.

Corrected at 15:30 p.m.