Author of the assist for the goal that sealed the red-black victory last Saturday (11) over Vitória, Diego gave a press conference in the press room at CT George Helal after training this Monday (12). The midfielder highlighted the connection he feels with the club and with Nação, commenting on another big party at the airport that is being organized by the fans before the group's trip to São Paulo, where they will face Palmeiras.

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The important clash was another topic discussed at the press conference. The red-black number 35 spoke about his expectations for the match, which will take place this Wednesday (14), and commented on how the unity of the red-black group has made and can make even more of a difference during the season.

We have a way of playing, regardless of the opponent. The way the team has been playing boosts our confidence, but we have to continue to remain humble and work hard. I think that's what makes us feel this way, and by behaving this way, things will happen naturally. It makes us believe more in our teammates, try harder, and that makes all the difference. The team has quality, we know that, and this is the path we must follow.

It will be a great pleasure to be a part of this again. At this time, we must not look at the difficulties, but overcome them. This was the way the fans found to do it. The Red-Black Nation is unique. We will feel the warmth they transmit at this moment and bring that onto the field, even if they are not physically present in the stadium. Our dedication will be the same as always.

I'm sure the team is approaching this match with great respect. I don't think it will be a championship-clinching game, but it will be very important, a big test for us. We'll need to impose ourselves against a team that isn't in first place by chance. We'll go there with great respect, as we have against all our previous opponents, but knowing our condition and the path we must follow, regardless of the opponent. We're aware that it will be a difficult match, but we can achieve a positive result, and to do so, we'll need a near-perfect performance. I expect a tough match, with few chances. It's the kind of match that's decided by the details. Palmeiras is a very well-prepared team, especially playing at home. I don't expect them to concede much space, so we'll need to decide our plays very quickly. 

It's clear that Flamengo has been doing a very good job for some time now, and now they're reaping the rewards. I arrive here at a very positive moment. I prepared myself to arrive and meet expectations, but I also depend heavily on the group, which has done an incredible job. Since I arrived here, I've made a point of making it clear to them how much I value the environment, the simplicity, and everyone's complicity, and that's what makes the difference. We have a very high-quality team, but without this humility and dedication, we would be an ordinary team. We haven't been because we've been practicing everything we talked about daily. I expected a strong start, but my start has exceeded my expectations. However, we need to look ahead and continue on the path we've taken to achieve our goals.

I appreciate the analysis, but it's a bit difficult to analyze what happened. Since I arrived, I've felt a very favorable environment. With all the preparation, which starts with the board and continues through the coaching staff and players, we feel the team is ready. I told them I'm arriving doing what they've been doing so far: adding my strengths, trying to make a difference, but knowing that our strength comes from the group, something I've felt in the team. The team is focused and, above all, believing in ourselves. The direction we're heading is very clear, doing everything objectively, with or without the ball. This has made a difference, boosting confidence, and the results are showing.

I believe that, beyond the professionalism and skill of each Flamengo employee, we make every person who works here feel important. From the players to the doctors, physiotherapists, coaches... Flamengo has done this very well. It takes a large group to compete in Brazilian football, as it's a very demanding league. Everyone needs to be focused and in good shape, both psychologically and physically. It's something that makes a difference.

It's even difficult to reach a conclusion about this. Every time I step onto the field and wear this jersey, I feel immense pleasure. This connection has been perfect since my arrival, and I'm experiencing it intensely. I feel the affection from all the fans, which has served as extra motivation for me. I feel I'm on the right path, at the right club, at the right time. These are special situations. We still have a lot to work on, but we're aware that there's still a lot to be done. The expectation is that many good things are to come.

What gives us the confidence to go out there and face Palmeiras on equal terms is knowing we're headed in the right direction. We'll approach this game like we approach others. Despite this, we have to be realistic and understand that Palmeiras isn't in first place in the competition by chance. We made some mistakes against other teams, but we managed to create other chances later on and convert them into goals, something that might not happen against Palmeiras. We need to go into this game with redoubled concentration, as that's what makes the difference in these types of matches.

In Salvador, we celebrated. After a difficult game like that, with the team exhausted and reaching our limits, it was time to celebrate the result. From the next day on, we started thinking about the next game. We didn't train together today, as part of the team was recovering, but tomorrow we'll all be together and preparing to play a great match.

Even though I know no one becomes Flamengo's coach by accident, I was pleasantly surprised. He's a very intelligent coach who expresses himself well. He's communicative, but without losing his authority. He's undoubtedly our role model. I've told a few people that he says what we expect him to say, always at the right time. When analyzing games, especially during halftime, he always comments on what's going on in our heads. It gives us direction, and Zé has done that brilliantly. We have 100% confidence in him.

They're crucial. Marking starts there and transmits confidence to the rest of the team. Defensive work is being divided, thus avoiding overloading any one area. I believe this collective effort is increasingly important in football, with the team positioning itself compactly, as there are many fast players on all teams these days who exploit every available space. These players have done a sensational job, and we're all reaping the rewards.