One of Flamengo's standout performers in this Brazilian Championship, left-back Juan wants the red-and-black squad to approach Thursday's match against Grêmio as a decisive one. For the number 6, who returns after serving a suspension, Flamengo must do its homework and win at Maracanã.

"It's time to regain lost points and regain confidence. This is a crucial game for our Brazilian Championship ambitions. We have to treat it like a decisive match. If we want to think about winning again, we have to win. We haven't had good results at Maracanã against our direct rivals, and we have to win again at home. I'm counting on the fans' support."

The player praised the quality of the Gaucho team. According to Juan, Grêmio isn't at the top of the table by chance.

"Grêmio is the team to beat, and we have to come away with three points at any cost. Their top spot is no surprise. They're a great club, and they have an excellent team. Grêmio has a strong team that defends very well. We have to be careful with set pieces, because they've scored a lot of goals that way."