One topic has become a recurring theme in the week leading up to this Wednesday's semifinal between Flamengo and Botafogo at Maracanã: the fact that Joel Santana coached the red-and-black team and is well acquainted with the Gávea team's playing style. However, having represented Flamengo for over twenty years, Andrade isn't worried. According to him, "no one knows Flamengo better" than the coach himself.

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A five-time Brazilian champion as a player and once as a coach, Tromba is aware of the difficulties the Gávea team will face when facing their rivals, and warns that, while Joel knows Flamengo well, Andrade also knows the club's style very well. The red-and-black coach promises to pay close attention to another recurring topic in recent days: the strength of Botafogo's aerial attack.

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"Sometimes it's difficult to neutralize, after all, the opponent is taller, but we have to try to compensate for that somehow. Tight marking, to neutralize this, is the best way. I know Joel well; he knows how to capitalize on his teams' strengths, and we'll have to do something different to overcome them," he explained.

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Andrade also believes there are no favorites for this Wednesday's duel. The coach doesn't place much emphasis on Flamengo's favorable record against their rivals in recent years and is betting on a very even match.

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"Botafogo was thrashed by Vasco, but they responded very well with Joel's arrival. He's given the team his own face and will be a great opponent. There are no favorites. We have some outstanding players, yes, but football isn't won with a name or a jersey, it's won on the field, and we have to give it everything to win," he added.

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Flamengo must face Botafogo with Bruno, Leonardo Moura, Álvaro, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Willians, Toró, Kleberson and Vinícius Pacheco (Petkovic); Vagner Love and Adriano.