Today, he stood out in another tactical training session held this morning at Granja Comary in Teresópolis. During the session, Cuca insisted on quick ball releases for attack, and Everton was tasked with playing wide on the wings, linking up with Ibson and Marcelinho Paraíba, looking for Obina, who will be the key player in the box. After a promising debut against Fluminense last year, the young player is betting that 2009 will be much better than the previous season.

"The coach has been talking to me a lot, he said he believes in me as a second striker. This makes me more confident and ready to establish myself in this new position," said the midfielder, who sees his good relationship with Obina as a strong ally. "I talk to him often; Obina is a wonderful person, and we'll gradually get closer, each explaining how we feel best."

Everton knows that his strong performance on his debut created high expectations within the club and among the fans. The fact that he suffered several injuries soon after was the main reason for his difficulty in establishing himself as a starter.

"I started well here. That Fla-Flu match is still fresh in everyone's minds, but I got injured three times, which really hurt me. Now everyone is starting from scratch. The preseason work has been excellent, and I want to forget the past. The ball will start going in this year, and I'll have the chance to establish myself on the team."

While the players participated in tactical training, midfielder Zé Roberto worked out physically. He ran around the field and did exercises in the weight room.