The day started with a lot of sweat in Porto Feliz. Once again, the focus of the Flamengo squad's training was physical preparation. Running, exercises, gym... The red-and-black team had to work hard this Saturday. Reinforcement Fernando had barely arrived and was already training normally with the rest of the squad. Adriano, meanwhile, continues to do activities on his own. At the end of the training session, the players even had a chance to kick a ball around.

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Right-back Everton Silva, who is expected to start the Campeonato Carioca as a starter due to the nose surgery Leonardo Moura underwent last Thursday, believes that teams competing only in the state championship have a head start in physical preparation. Therefore, to match their opponents, the player offers the recipe: dedication.

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"The smaller teams come out ahead physically, but the bigger teams are far superior technically. Everyone here has the same mindset, which is to dedicate themselves fully to the preseason to be in good shape for the debut, even if the preparation isn't ideal, as it's only nine days," he analyzed.

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Álvaro, an experienced defender who has never played in the Campeonato Carioca, has become one of the group's leaders since arriving at Gávea in August 2009. The player also believes that his opponents will be ahead in the physical aspect for the competition, and highlights the strength of Flamengo's great rivals, who have strengthened for the State Championship.

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"I've been talking a lot with the group about the important year ahead for Flamengo. The club has won the last three Carioca titles, and now we have the chance to go for a fourth. It will be a little more difficult, because we will have little time to prepare, and the other teams will be well ahead of us in terms of physical fitness. The big teams are also strengthening themselves, and I believe it will be a very competitive championship," he concluded.

Read more: Fitness trainer Alexandre Sanz explains the work he has done for the pre-season