The goals the team conceded in the first stage of the Guanabara Cup became a recurring topic in press conferences after Flamengo's training session at Ninho do Urubu. But defender Álvaro, who has been sent off twice in the competition, is unfazed by the criticism.

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On the contrary. The player believes that the comments made by the press and even some fans motivate the team to work even harder.

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"The criticism is good because it touches the player. I believe we already showed our worth last year, so now it's time to regain confidence, group a little deeper, and everything will fall into place. We conceded two goals from non-existent penalties, and the opponent also has merit," said the sheriff.

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Álvaro believes the team is on track to face Botafogo next Wednesday in the semifinal of the first round of the Campeonato Carioca. The defender also highlights the dedication of the midfield in marking, helping to protect the defense.

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"It's not just the back four and the goalkeeper's fault, it's the whole team that is dedicating themselves and getting it right to score. We have Kleberson and Vinícius returning, Toró and Willians stopping the full-backs from advancing, and with these details being fixed, the team will be better for the semifinal," he added.