Luxemburgo says that the classic "always gives a little chill"
Anxious, as both coach and fan, Luxemburgo predicts an exciting game against Vasco at Engenhão
By From the official website team - in
Vanderlei Luxemburgo's first derby in his third stint as Flamengo coach will be against Vasco, a team he always beat when he was Flamengo's coach. But the team's strong record against their rival doesn't mean much to Luxa. Not even the team's current good form, having won two games and drawn one under his leadership, can lessen the coach's anxiety about the match.
He knows that the match is different, a separate championship, and reveals that he is very motivated for this duel, which is crucial for the red-blacks' ambitions in the competition.
"That little chill comes, it gives that little 'blink'. If you don't feel it, it's over, my friend. You have to feel it, otherwise you're dead. I feel it. At Flamengo, it's my first derby against teams from Rio (in this period), especially with the rivalry that Flamengo and Vasco have had, since the days when I played," he said.
On the bench across the Engenhão field will be a sort of apprentice to Vasco's coach, PC Gusmão. Vasco's manager worked with Luxa for a long time, but he rejects any kind of personal duel with his friend.
"PC learned a lot from me, but he also has a lot of talent of his own. But the players are the ones who really decide the game," observed the coach, who recalled that he faced Roberto Dinamite, now president of Vasco, when he was a player.
"Roberto is president of Vasco today, but we met in the youth team, playing against each other. Zico himself left here... It's cool to know that we're there playing against each other. That this is alive," concluded the coach.
He knows that the match is different, a separate championship, and reveals that he is very motivated for this duel, which is crucial for the red-blacks' ambitions in the competition.
"That little chill comes, it gives that little 'blink'. If you don't feel it, it's over, my friend. You have to feel it, otherwise you're dead. I feel it. At Flamengo, it's my first derby against teams from Rio (in this period), especially with the rivalry that Flamengo and Vasco have had, since the days when I played," he said.
On the bench across the Engenhão field will be a sort of apprentice to Vasco's coach, PC Gusmão. Vasco's manager worked with Luxa for a long time, but he rejects any kind of personal duel with his friend.
"PC learned a lot from me, but he also has a lot of talent of his own. But the players are the ones who really decide the game," observed the coach, who recalled that he faced Roberto Dinamite, now president of Vasco, when he was a player.
"Roberto is president of Vasco today, but we met in the youth team, playing against each other. Zico himself left here... It's cool to know that we're there playing against each other. That this is alive," concluded the coach.
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