Captain and leader of the current Flamengo squad, defender Fábio Luciano believes that the victory over Sport, on Saturday, at Maracanã, has put Flamengo more alive than ever in the fight for the 2008 Brasileirão title. For the player, the top six teams have a chance of winning the tournament.

"Many people have tipped Grêmio as the champion. But the pressure on the leader is immense. The competition is tight until the end. We'll have games at Maracanã, and with the support of the fans, we can go far. We won't give our opponents any respite. On the field, everyone knows the competition is tight, and the matches always motivate us. There are six or seven teams fighting until the end, and Flamengo is among those title contenders. They let Flamengo back into the fray, and we'll do our part in this title race."

Fábio Luciano praised the work being done at Flamengo and stated that the squad is committed to the pursuit of this title that is so important for the red-black team.

"We're happy with the work being done here and are within our goal of reaching the end of the championship with a chance of winning the Libertadores and the title. We still have a direct confrontation with one of the leaders, and we'll continue with the same seriousness and respect for everyone."

Gávea's number 3 knows that Flamengo's next challenge in the Brasileirão, against Náutico, at Aflitos, will be crucial to keeping the dream of a sixth championship alive.

"The game against Náutico will be very difficult, but we know that a win could put us in an excellent position. We always go onto the field thinking about winning. But of course, the game in Recife will be very difficult, as will the sequence we have afterward, with a derby against Vasco. But with the desire we have, we know we can dream of greater heights in the championship."

Fábio Luciano guarantees that the poor condition of the Aflitos pitch will not hinder the red-black team's push to reach the top of the table.

"Aflitos Stadium isn't in the best of conditions, but many others are. We'll respect Náutico for the team they have, for their current form in the league, and we know we'll have the support of our fans there, too. A possible poor pitch won't hinder our progress."