Flamengo is undefeated this season, with four wins in four games. The Flamengo attack is in good shape. Vagner Love and Adriano have been showing they'll give opponents a hard time all year. This has the fans excited and dreaming of great results. However, not everything has been rosy for coach Andrade's team at the start of 2010. The defense, considered the team's strongest sector in the final stretch of the 2009 Brazilian Championship, isn't living up to expectations and has been conceding numerous goals.

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There have already been six goals in four games, setting off alarm bells at Gávea. The always calm coach Andrade admits concern about his defense, which is without two of its key players: midfielders Maldonado and Willians, who are injured. The latter may even return for Fla-Fluminense, but for the derby, Andrade has lost another player: Leonardo Moura, who was sent off this Wednesday. Despite lamenting the goals conceded, the coach believes the team will improve in this area throughout the year.

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"There's concern. When we have time, we'll try to improve the players' positioning. But the defense is a whole, not just the four players. Either way, we can't concede six goals in four games. I don't know if it's the absence of Aírton or Maldonado. Maybe it's the fact that we're at the beginning of the championship. The team will adjust soon. The Brazilian Championship started like this. Marking starts up front with the forwards and the defensive midfielders. Tighter marking is necessary. If the team can improve its positioning in midfield, things will become easier," he explained.

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One of the team's most experienced players and leaders, defender Ronaldo Angelim believes that the high number of goals conceded by the red-and-black team is not solely the defense's fault. According to him, the entire team must be held accountable for this, as well as for the attack's strong performance. After all, football is a team sport. Even so, the number 4 also believes the team must change its defensive posture.

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"It's not the defense's or the attack's fault. When we make mistakes, everyone makes mistakes, and when we get things right, everyone gets them right. We're playing below expectations. We have to try to concede fewer goals, because goal difference is crucial," he said.