Goalkeeper Diego Alves says the Brazilian championship is the priority and the team will recover
Rubro-Negro's number 1 gives his support to Muralha and talks about his reputation as a penalty saver
By Lucas Dantas - Flamengo Communications - in
Goalkeeper Diego Alves saved his first penalty kick for Flamengo this Monday against Ponte Preta at the Moisés Lucarelli Stadium. However, the save wasn't enough to prevent a 1-0 defeat, and the team remains seventh in the Brazilian Championship standings with 39 points.
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In a post-match interview, the No. 1 made clear the squad's dissatisfaction with the result in Campinas. Even with the CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana in its decisive stage, the player made a point of stating that the priority is promotion in the Brazilian league.
"It's very clear that we, the players, are not happy with the situation. We know it's complicated, but we can't lose sight of who's on top. And our goal isn't to think about the South American, it's to think about the Brazilian Championship. We'll have time to work for the South American, but we want to finish in the top four here to guarantee a spot in the Libertadores," the goalkeeper told the Bem, Amigos program.
Alex Muralha's teammate, Diego, was also asked about his friend's situation and defended the red-black goalkeeper who played in the Copa do Brasil final against Cruzeiro, and the pressure the player has been under off the field.
Alex Muralha's teammate, Diego, was also asked about his friend's situation and defended the red-black goalkeeper who played in the Copa do Brasil final against Cruzeiro, and the pressure the player has been under off the field.
"In our profession, we're already accustomed to this kind of pressure. We goalkeepers live on the edge. But some things have been created at this time: a lot of lies in terms of goalkeeper training, penalties... I've known Alex well before Flamengo. He's very humble and hard-working. He's suffering a lot right now, but we have this virtue of turning things around. He'll do it. The players are behind him. Knowing his story—he came from the countryside, works hard, and his humility—we'll always be there to support him," Diego declared.
Of course, his reputation as a penalty taker couldn't be ignored. When asked about it, Diego simply stated that it depends on each goalkeeper and their ability, as well as psychological warfare with the penalty takers.
Of course, his reputation as a penalty taker couldn't be ignored. When asked about it, Diego simply stated that it depends on each goalkeeper and their ability, as well as psychological warfare with the penalty takers.
"Every goalkeeper has a different technique. It depends on strength, reaction, and agility. Each goalkeeper must explore their technique. I saw Taffarel a lot, who waited a lot for the shot. Every goalkeeper has a different mentality. It also depends on the taker and the game situation. The pressure needs to be passed to the player taking the shot. And the goalkeeper needs to be calm enough to defend," Diego concluded.
Flamengo returns to the field for the Brazilian Championship on October 10th, in the classic against Fluminense, at Maracanã, at 17 pm.
Flamengo returns to the field for the Brazilian Championship on October 10th, in the classic against Fluminense, at Maracanã, at 17 pm.