The shot from outside the box that sealed the 1-0 victory over Atlético-MG last Sunday at Maracanã filled midfielder Cristian with confidence. This Wednesday, the player promised to try again to score a goal by taking long-range shots against São Paulo this Thursday at Maracanã.

"They have a defensive system that practically doesn't allow the opponent to enter the box, so I'll risk shooting from outside the box again, because that could be the path to another victory. I know Rogério Ceni is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, but nobody is perfect and it's up to me to try to get past him."

Cristian explained that the fact that the team plays with three defensive midfielders - besides him, Jaílton and Rômulo are strong in marking - means he has more freedom to get close to the area and, therefore, has a greater chance of risking shots, as he did at Paulista-SP and Atlético-PR.

"When I started playing here, Roger and Ibson played further forward, so my biggest concern was to be more defensive to give them freedom, as they are great at creating plays. With this new formation, I know that both Jaílton and Rômulo can protect me when I advance, so I feel more comfortable going forward and trying to score my goals."