Cuéllar comments on the quest for a World Cup spot: "humility, sacrifice and, obviously, football"
Midfielder gives press conference after training at CT
By Matheus Oliveira - inHaving secured qualification for the Guanabara Cup final with a 3-1 victory over Botafogo, the players took two days off before resuming training at the George Helal Training Center in Vargem Grande. Upon returning to training, the red-and-black team's focus is on one thing: the match against Boavista in the final of the first round of the State Championship.
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After completing the work on the field, which consisted of technical training, with the aim of improving the accuracy of passes at the first moment and ending with an exercise in decision-making and exploration of spaces, Gustavo Cuéllar gave a press conference. In the Victorino Chermont Press Room, the midfielder commented on the final this Sunday (18).
"It's important to be in the final, like competing for any title with Flamengo. We'll be facing a great team, which will certainly make everything we try to do difficult. It will be crucial to start the year by winning a title," analyzed the Flamengo's number 8.
Despite being in excellent form, Cuéllar will miss the Mais Querido's CONMEBOL Libertadores Bridgestone debut against River Plate-ARG and the following match against Emelec-EQU. Suspended for last year's CONMEBOL Sudamericana final, the Colombian regrets his absence at the start of the current edition's campaign.
"It will be difficult to miss the first two games. Unfortunately, I made a mistake, which I certainly won't make again. I think the coach is looking for options, getting the team in gear so that when I or any other player leaves, it's the same. That's what he's looking for," he analyzed, praising his likely replacements. "There are many quality players in my position, who are not surprisingly playing for Flamengo. Romulo, Jonas, Ronaldo, who is a kid I really admire for the football he plays. These are three players who can play in my position and who will certainly do the job," he added.
Prioritizing the tactical importance of the position, Paulo César Carpegiani seeks to organize the team so that its performance doesn't depend specifically on one player or another, but rather on a team in which each player's role on the field is performed efficiently. The midfielder explained what the red-and-black manager prioritizes during training sessions, especially at the position.
"He asks us to organize the game from the back, which is normal for us who play that position. Everyone knows how to do it very well. We also have to always be in a position to initiate plays. If we start on one side, we need to quickly turn the game around and start on the other. That's what the coach emphasizes," he said.
The World Cup will be held in Russia in mid-2018. Seeking a spot on the Colombian national team, the number 8 emphasizes his focus on the Rubro-Negro, noting that only with strong performances at the club will the managers' attention turn to his performances at Flamengo.
"It will be very difficult because in my position on the national team there are many quality players. I wake up every day to work for Flamengo first. Earn a spot here with a lot of humility, sacrifice, and, of course, football. If I play well and establish myself on this great team, I will certainly be looked at by the national team coaches. I'm calm and I work hard for that," he concluded.