Abel Braga praises Vitinho's performance and looks ahead to his Libertadores debut.
The Flamengo coach also praised the team's intensity in the match.
By Mariana Sa - inThis Sunday (24), Flamengo beat Americano 4-1 and got off to a good start in the Taça Rio, the second round of the Campeonato Carioca. With two goals from Vitinho, one from Gabriel Barbosa and one from Diego, Mais Querido achieved a standout performance and was praised by Abel Braga, the Flamengo coach.
After the match, the coach gave a press conference at the Maracanã, talking about the team's performance. “We started very well on the left side and I saw good movement. In the second half I decided to switch Vitinho and De Arrascaeta, and that worked well. The halftime talk was about the intensity, how we played in their half. But I commented that we could have already finished the game. I just asked them to be more precise with the final ball, the final pass. We did that and it worked well. I'm also very happy with the defense, I loved Léo (Duarte)'s performance. If you analyze their goal, the ball hit Rodinei's head and went in. If every game we score four goals and concede one on the only chance they create, I'm satisfied. The last match (against Fluminense) was out of the ordinary. If it's always this percentage, I'll love it. That's not bad at all,” Abel analyzed.
He also took the opportunity to praise the athletes who performed well. “The important thing is that De Arrascaeta is adapting. He's a special guy, we're happy to see him. Orlando Berrío has been training well, as has Dourado. Berrío could be a good option for the away game (in the Libertadores), he has a characteristic that helps a lot. Being Colombian, he's played a lot at altitude, which is beneficial. I told Gabriel that he would score before the match started. I told him to stay calm. Sometimes players go onto the field anxious and feel responsible for situations that don't go well, thinking they could have done more. It was good that it happened today, he participated in situations during the game. It was good for him and for the team too,” he said.
The coach also commented on the Conmebol Libertadores debut, which will be next week against San José in Oruro. “We know that the altitude is an atypical situation there. I don't discuss this with the players because it starts to put things in their heads. The logistics are ready, and I hope we can have a good game. Everything needs to be different there. We'll train the day before in a nearby location, but it's no use thinking that will solve all the problems. When you talk about the Libertadores, it's something you want very, very much. You can't create anxiety thinking you'll win no matter what. It's difficult for a team to withstand the pressure we put on today. We'll have to ease up because of the air, but we're ready to play a good game,” stated the Flamengo coach.
Finally, Abel Braga recalled how the tragedy at Ninho do Urubu affected the squad. He remembered the will to win that everyone had in the match against Fluminense, commenting on the importance of the victory against Americano. “The energy was low and they really needed this victory. Given the heat, I didn't expect this intensity. They managed to maintain the rhythm for a long time. The victory isn't just about the points themselves. It's about reconnecting with many things. These guys are human beings. There's a lot of pressure because of Flamengo's stature. Because of everything that happened, they felt that elimination deeply. The game was delayed, it had been 12 days since that match. The victory was deserved,” he concluded.
Flamengo returns to the field next Thursday (28), at 21 pm, against Portuguesa in Volta Redonda. The match is valid for the second round of the Taça Rio.