With a team of youngsters, the under-23s face Inter in the South
Rubro-Negros are looking for their third victory in three games in the category's Cup
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
After a victory in normal time against Fluminense and a victory on penalties over Palmeiras, Flamengo returns to play in the U-23 Cup, this Saturday (02.09), at Beira Rio, in Porto Alegre. The team from Gávea faces Internacional, who thrashed Corinthians 4-0 last weekend, and trusts in the potential of its young talents to return from Rio Grande do Sul with another positive result in their luggage.
Unlike in previous rounds, coach Renato Trindade won't have many experienced players on his roster. Only Leo Medeiros is expected to remain in the squad, which is expected to field Vinícius, Alex, Lucas (China), Henrique, and Saba; Luiz Antônio (Pecka), Antônio, Leo Medeiros, and Willian Amendoim (Vander); Guilherme and Cristian Borja.
"The team's chemistry is really good. We talk a lot, everyone is motivated, whether the youngest or the most experienced, and I believe that can only help. The club wins, we win, and we know it, so we'll try to play another good game and try to get back to winning the South," said Medeiros.
Defender Henrique predicts a tough match against the talented Internacional team, which has also won both of its matches so far in the competition, both in regulation time. He notes that the Gávea team won't be able to repeat its lineup from the last round, but he's confident in the work done this week to achieve a good result.
"If we repeat what we did in training, we'll play well. We know the championship is tough, and we're also going through a difficult time, with some players on loan and the coach unable to repeat the team. But we all know each other, we'll work hard for each other, and we want to win another victory," he said.
Flamengo is in second place in Group B of the competition with five points. Atlético-MG leads with six. Corinthians, Santos, and Botafogo have yet to score. Inter, in turn, also has six points and leads Group A, which also includes Vasco and Avaí, with the same six points, Palmeiras with four, and Fluminense, which has yet to score.
Unlike in previous rounds, coach Renato Trindade won't have many experienced players on his roster. Only Leo Medeiros is expected to remain in the squad, which is expected to field Vinícius, Alex, Lucas (China), Henrique, and Saba; Luiz Antônio (Pecka), Antônio, Leo Medeiros, and Willian Amendoim (Vander); Guilherme and Cristian Borja.
"The team's chemistry is really good. We talk a lot, everyone is motivated, whether the youngest or the most experienced, and I believe that can only help. The club wins, we win, and we know it, so we'll try to play another good game and try to get back to winning the South," said Medeiros.
Defender Henrique predicts a tough match against the talented Internacional team, which has also won both of its matches so far in the competition, both in regulation time. He notes that the Gávea team won't be able to repeat its lineup from the last round, but he's confident in the work done this week to achieve a good result.
"If we repeat what we did in training, we'll play well. We know the championship is tough, and we're also going through a difficult time, with some players on loan and the coach unable to repeat the team. But we all know each other, we'll work hard for each other, and we want to win another victory," he said.
Flamengo is in second place in Group B of the competition with five points. Atlético-MG leads with six. Corinthians, Santos, and Botafogo have yet to score. Inter, in turn, also has six points and leads Group A, which also includes Vasco and Avaí, with the same six points, Palmeiras with four, and Fluminense, which has yet to score.
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