After the field activities at CT George Helal, the commander of the red-black attack Paolo Guerrero appeared at the Victorino Chermont Press Room, where he gave a press conference. With the classic against Botafogo in sight, Diego's absence for the match was one of the topics addressed by the journalists, in parallel with the greater wear and tear that the opponent will have due to the away match that will be played this Thursday (20) for the Conmebol Libertadores Bridgestone.

Guerrero commented on the midfielder's absence. "We know we'll miss Diego, he's a very important player for us. But Zé must have already decided on the team. This week, we worked with a wide variety of players, experimenting with other players in that position," said Guerrero, who emphasized the importance of what happens on the field over what happens off the field. "We have to think about ourselves. In this type of derby, there's no one who loses anymore. Everything is decided on the field," he added.

Next, it was President Eduardo Bandeira de Mello's turn to speak to the press. Among the topics discussed, the president praised the Ilha do Governador arena, which is nearing its final stages of construction. "Everyone who loves soccer likes the Maracanã and large stadiums, but they also enjoy watching games in more intimate settings. The Luso-Brazilian Stadium will offer all the comforts our fans need, with an exceptional pitch for Flamengo to play on and for their opponents as well. I think it will be a very good experience," the president praised.

Still on the subject of the Luso-Brazilian, Bandeira de Mello recalled a historic milestone at the Mais Querido stadium. "It's a very important stadium in Flamengo's history. It was there that Doval scored his first goal for Flamengo in 1969. I was there. I think it's going to be very good, and now we just have to wait and see," he recalled.