Before the players selected for the match against Paraná traveled to Espirito Santo, where the match will take place, Diego Alves appeared at the Victorino Chermont Press Room, at Ninho do Urubu, to give a press conference. The red-black number 1 analyzed the opponent this Wednesday (30), preaching high concentration in this decisive game for the Primeira Liga Cup.

"I think that when any competition comes to this point, every Flamengo player enters to win. If we don't even want to lose in games against friends, imagine in a competition. It's also an opportunity to test other players, give minutes to those who need rhythm. Without underestimating any team, but knowing that the schedule is tight, we are aware that we want to be champions," he said.

Diego Alves is not in the squad for the match, but he emphasized his confidence in his teammates who will be involved in the quarterfinals. "The coach decided to bring in other players for this type of situation. Alex and Thiago, whenever they came on, performed very well. It's a shame not to be able to participate in the Copa do Brasil at this very important time, but I have complete confidence in the players who will be there," he said.

After enjoying some great seasons in European football with Valencia, Diego Alves also talks about his adaptation upon returning to Brazil. The goalkeeper discusses the improvements both physically and technically, considering the number 1 arrived at Flamengo only after the season with his former club ended.

"I feel much better than when I arrived after ten years of playing a slightly different style of football. This adaptation period is normal, but today I feel very good. In the months I've been here, I've managed to acquire the physical aspect, gain lean muscle, and adapt to the style of play and the players. It's a process that may take a little longer or a little shorter, but that's normal for a player who's spent so much time abroad," said Diego Alves.

He's a very professional player. He had a serious knee injury and is recovering. He's managed to regain his fitness, which is essential for his role. He's a player who never looks down on himself and is always helping. Seeing Conca being able to participate in the game shows that all his effort was worthwhile.

We know there's a lot of anticipation for this final, but the work needs to be done day by day. Training, rest, and upcoming matches. The Primeira Liga isn't meant to be preparation for the Copa do Brasil, but it does give the players the rhythm they need to use later on. Later on, we'll focus on Cruzeiro. Our focus now is on Paraná. We know that playing Flamengo is a motivational factor for any team.

Once you start winning games, your confidence grows. I think Rueda has helped the team gain more consistency; we're more compact. When we play further forward, we can apply a lot of pressure. When we drop back, we can close down the defensive gaps. Daily work is crucial to achieving this improvement.

We hope they can play well and return injury-free. I don't think the result is that important to us. If they return injury-free, that would be a huge help.

I've been playing every weekend. I may have missed a bit against Corinthians because I hadn't trained with the team in two months, but I'm much better now. Since then, I've improved both physically and technically.

We take this competition very seriously. No one likes to lose or to settle. All the players who have the opportunity to play in these matches will have the chance to step up and show that they can wear the Flamengo jersey.

Football today has become more modern. What Rueda does is keep the team compact, either forward or defensive. From this point on, you can demand that the team press more up front or defend at the back. He has a game plan that makes the team pay attention to these plays. At the same time, when we have the ball, we look for the best option to develop the plays. But there's still a lot of room for improvement. The work is done so that each player performs their role to the best of their ability.