Flamengo strengthens with qualification
Players and staff praise the red-black team's ability to overcome challenges in the Libertadores
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
Flamengo reached the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores with the last spot among the XNUMX teams. Corinthians, with the first. Analyzing the first stage record, therefore, the São Paulo team would be the favorites. But the team from Gávea didn't care about numbers and secured a spot in the quarterfinals at Pacaembu Stadium. Kudos to the grit and dedication of all the players.
Right-back Leonardo Moura, for example, praised the fighting spirit demonstrated by the group this Wednesday and promised the Red-Black Nation that the team will not stop there and will fight to win the Libertadores with all its strength.
"The victory further strengthened the squad. We know our strength, and playing here, in a packed Pacaembu, is very difficult. We were real fighters, and I wanted to tell the fans that Flamengo doesn't want to stop here. We're going to fight hard for this title. They tried to say the team wasn't capable of advancing, but we qualified. They said we wouldn't get past Corinthians, and we did. We're getting stronger and stronger, we've already accepted that, and now we intend to play our football at home and away," he said.
Coach Rogério Lourenço agrees. According to him, beating the team with the best group stage record is a feat to be celebrated. However, Rogério also contains his euphoria and says the team still has a lot of work to do to win this title.
"We came out stronger. Beating Corinthians, the team with the best record, is a great result. It's also worth mentioning that we got our first win with a man down and a lot of determination. Everyone here knows, however, that nothing is guaranteed. We need to keep working to win the title," said the coach, who explained what he discussed with the players at halftime to get the team to change its approach on the field.
"We had two distinct halves. We devised a strategy to create the same structure as the game at Maracanã, but we had a problem with the right side of the defense. Corinthians' game fell into place, and we couldn't hold the ball. They deservedly went 2-0 up. But we came back with a tactical change, with Kleberson, who is an intelligent player, and also with a change in attitude. I'd like to congratulate the players for their change in attitude. I tried to show that the team was capable. We were apathetic in the first half and weren't playing the way a decision should be played. You have to have heart. And that's the hallmark of this group," he concluded.
Right-back Leonardo Moura, for example, praised the fighting spirit demonstrated by the group this Wednesday and promised the Red-Black Nation that the team will not stop there and will fight to win the Libertadores with all its strength.
"The victory further strengthened the squad. We know our strength, and playing here, in a packed Pacaembu, is very difficult. We were real fighters, and I wanted to tell the fans that Flamengo doesn't want to stop here. We're going to fight hard for this title. They tried to say the team wasn't capable of advancing, but we qualified. They said we wouldn't get past Corinthians, and we did. We're getting stronger and stronger, we've already accepted that, and now we intend to play our football at home and away," he said.
Coach Rogério Lourenço agrees. According to him, beating the team with the best group stage record is a feat to be celebrated. However, Rogério also contains his euphoria and says the team still has a lot of work to do to win this title.
"We came out stronger. Beating Corinthians, the team with the best record, is a great result. It's also worth mentioning that we got our first win with a man down and a lot of determination. Everyone here knows, however, that nothing is guaranteed. We need to keep working to win the title," said the coach, who explained what he discussed with the players at halftime to get the team to change its approach on the field.
"We had two distinct halves. We devised a strategy to create the same structure as the game at Maracanã, but we had a problem with the right side of the defense. Corinthians' game fell into place, and we couldn't hold the ball. They deservedly went 2-0 up. But we came back with a tactical change, with Kleberson, who is an intelligent player, and also with a change in attitude. I'd like to congratulate the players for their change in attitude. I tried to show that the team was capable. We were apathetic in the first half and weren't playing the way a decision should be played. You have to have heart. And that's the hallmark of this group," he concluded.