Fitness coach Lluís Sala arrived at Flamengo this year to join the coaching staff of Portuguese coach Paulo Sousa. In an interview with FlaTV, the Spaniard spoke about the beginning of his professional career, when he worked for the Spanish Alpine Ski Federation before joining the club.

"I usually focus more on strength work, activations, and, above all, individualized work for each player. This depends on their needs, not only in the game but also taking into account their injury history and everything the player needs to be ready to train. I also spent many years on the medical team and specialized in how the injured player gradually integrated into the group work dynamic, preparing the injured athlete to train within the group."

"I don't come from the world of soccer. I've been an alpine skier practically my entire life. I started my professional career in alpine skiing with the Spanish and Catalan Federations, as well as clubs in Catalonia. Ultimately, you meet people at different times, and they guide you down one path or another. I was very fortunate to coincide in time and space with good people who guided me into the world of soccer. My first experience was in the third division, at Palamós, with a very dear person here, Jordi Guerrero, who was the coach there. From there, we went to Girona, Jordi first, and then me. I spent five years at Girona and since then I joined Paulo Sousa's staff. I joined them at Bourdeaux, in France, and then I went to the Polish national team. Now I'm here at Flamengo."

People who know me always say I'm a hard worker. I don't have a timetable. I believe that in high-level sports, professionals shouldn't have a timetable. They have to be 100% available for the tasks required of this sport. I believe I'm a hard worker, very observant, I like to observe the players' behavior, not only on the field or in the gym, but in their relationships with their teammates and club professionals, in their relationships with the medical department. I think it's important to know. One characteristic—I don't know how it is here in Brazil, but my wife says I'm very stubborn, insistent, always pursuing the things I have in mind.

"The Libertadores is like our European Champions League. When Paulo called us, he said, 'Lluís, do you want to come to Flamengo?' I said, 'Wow, Flamengo won the Libertadores two years ago; they're a team that competes for titles, everyone wants to beat Flamengo.' That's an extra boost of motivation and energy, being able to play in the Libertadores and be the favorite. Not just playing, but being the favorite to win this tournament is hair-raising.

Check out the full interview with Lluís Sala below: