When he stepped onto the Maracanã pitch this Wednesday (14.07), Marcelo Lomba knew the spotlight would be on him. Flamengo's starter, after the recent events involving goalkeeper Bruno, the young goalkeeper, a product of Gávea, showed personality and efficiency when he was called upon against Botafogo.

At the end of the game, after a 1-0 victory, Lomba received the greatest recognition he could have hoped for: from the fans. With his name chanted by the fans at Maracanã, the goalkeeper threw his shirt to the crowd and vented his frustration.

"We proved that we have a team of warriors, real men. Everyone here has been through a difficult time in the last few days, and there's nothing better than proving our worth on the field. The entire team was excellent. So, they didn't give me any trouble."

And to reciprocate the affection he received from all the red-blacks in recent days, Lomba revealed what the stance will be for this Flamengo that returned to the Brasileirão with a victory.

"Everyone ran really hard today. They gave their all, and that's what the fans want to see. They really deserve it. We have to have this dedication, this commitment on the field at all times. That's the only way we'll get more wins," he said.

Without forgetting to also thank the support received from the more experienced players of the red-black group, such as Léo Moura and Ronaldo Angelim, the young red-black goalkeeper cited Zico and coach Rogério Lourenço as the team's biggest supporters.

"The last month has been very difficult, but the team has responded well. The more experienced players, Zico and Rogério, have taught us a lot of good things. They showed they trust the group, and we went onto the field knowing that. We have a strong group and we can compete at the top," he concluded.

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