In addition to his near-perfect performance in the match against Chapecoense, Cuéllar scored the goal that paved the way for the impressive victory at Ilha do Urubu. Upon the squad's return to training at Ninho do Urubu, the midfielder gave a press conference in the Victorino Chermont Press Room and celebrated the good match he had on Wednesday (20).

"It's great to help the team win a match. We won, we qualified, and it's very important that I scored a goal. I was well positioned at the time. I felt comfortable with and without the ball. There's always room for improvement, but winning and scoring goals is easier, of course. It was a good match from the whole team; we didn't give Chapecoense any openings, and that's an important point for me and the team as well," said the number 26.

Cuéllar's runs into the box were crucial to the team's performance in the match that sealed the club's qualification for the quarterfinals of the CONMEBOL Sudamericana. His goal demonstrates the effectiveness of the runs made by both the Colombian and Willian Arão, with whom he forms a solid defensive partnership. 

"The coach really stresses this in his training sessions. When I saw Trauco pass the ball to Guerrero, I thought about getting into the box and following Guerrero so he could pass it to me. I didn't see the flag go up, so when the ball came to me, I just shot it at goal and, thank God, I scored," said the midfielder, who explained the dedication of his celebration. "To my wife and son, who have always been by my side through good times and bad," he added.

This Thursday (21), Mais Querido began preparing for the next challenge of the season, against the Avaí team. Cuéllar commented on this important match for the Brazilian Championship, aiming to continue the good sequence this Saturday (23) in front of the red-black fans at Ilha do Urubu.

"Here in Brazil, there are no weak teams. They all have quality, and the football is competitive. It's a team that's growing, and that's reflected in the numbers. We'll face a tough team, but we have to look for a result against a great team that's having an important second half," he predicted.

Tomorrow, coach Reinaldo Rueda will make the final adjustments to the team before the duel against the Santa Catarina team, which will start at 19 pm.

Nothing has changed at work. I've always done it the same way since last year, when I arrived at Flamengo. I've worked hard to gain a position, but unfortunately, I wasn't getting there. The change in coach is giving me some confidence, as he knew me in Colombia. That was very important to me. Confidence is everything in football. When we have it, the chances of successful plays are greater. Every day I have something different to improve, in training and in matches.

I think our first chance is the Brazilian Championship against Avaí. It's crucial to get the three points, which will keep us in the Libertadores group. Obviously, the match against Cruzeiro is crucial for us, as it's where we're closest to that spot, but now it's time to think about Avaí, with all due respect to Cruzeiro. First, we have to think about this match against Avaí, and then we'll focus on the next one at Mineirão.

He gives us a lot of confidence. Not just Juan, but also our captain Réver, Rafael, and Rhodolfo. They're guys who inspire calm in us, who are ahead of them on the field. It's admirable how he trains, as a slightly older player. How he strives daily, in training and in matches. We have to emulate that, especially the younger players, so they can reach his age with this quality.

I came to Flamengo because I'm a national-team player and because of my current level. I'm showing that now. Unfortunately, last year I didn't have much continuity in my playing, but now I'm getting this opportunity and trying to do my best. I can't drop in level to continue performing well for Flamengo and, God willing, for the national team as well.

It's difficult because we don't just have the Brazilian Championship and the Copa do Brasil. We have many championships here, like the South American, Libertadores, and the Copa da Primeira Liga, so it's a bit difficult to change our minds. I'm 100% at the coach's disposal, and I think the whole team finished yesterday's match well. The entire squad will be ready for Avaí, and if not, they'll go to the Copa do Brasil final.

We have to think about scoring first and then going on the attack. Try to play a fluid game when moving the ball forward. The coach really demands that we surprise ourselves, especially me. I did a bit of that in this game and will try to keep doing it so it works and I can keep scoring goals.

I'm a guy who thinks emotions matter a lot in football. Playing in Argentina is very difficult, and in Ecuador too, due to the altitude. Brazilians have a lot of quality in their players and teams. Football is growing every day, not only in terms of revenue, but also in terms of performance. If the coach isn't doing well, it will certainly be difficult to win. We have to focus on this, and Brazil will certainly return to being the powerhouse it always was.