Attention to the condition of the Engenhão lawn
Players and coaching staff regret that the field is not in such good condition, but they do not use this as an excuse.
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
With the closure of Maracanã, Engenhão became the main venue for Rio de Janeiro soccer. Flamengo, Fluminense, and Botafogo are all hosting their matches there, and Duque de Caxias has even played a few matches there. As a result, the pitch at João Havelange Olympic Stadium isn't in the best condition.
Aware of this, coach Silas knows that playing on a hard pitch can end up causing some physical problems for the players and remembers that the Gávea team is still struggling to get some recently signed reinforcements into shape as quickly as possible.
"In the game against Fluminense, we were able to play. The players didn't complain. But it was tough, so much so that three players had cramps. But we can't talk about what we tolerate. It's like this for us, for Palmeiras, for Fluminense, Botafogo... But our problem is much bigger," he said.
Midfielder Willians agrees, but warns that regardless of the condition of the pitch, Flamengo will want to assert its home advantage.
"The field is bad. Three clubs also play there, and there was also Caxias. The field was damaged, but... we'll have to play there anyway. We have to show, bad field or not, who Flamengo is," he added.
Aware of this, coach Silas knows that playing on a hard pitch can end up causing some physical problems for the players and remembers that the Gávea team is still struggling to get some recently signed reinforcements into shape as quickly as possible.
"In the game against Fluminense, we were able to play. The players didn't complain. But it was tough, so much so that three players had cramps. But we can't talk about what we tolerate. It's like this for us, for Palmeiras, for Fluminense, Botafogo... But our problem is much bigger," he said.
Midfielder Willians agrees, but warns that regardless of the condition of the pitch, Flamengo will want to assert its home advantage.
"The field is bad. Three clubs also play there, and there was also Caxias. The field was damaged, but... we'll have to play there anyway. We have to show, bad field or not, who Flamengo is," he added.
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