Maldonado promises to do his homework against Vasco.
Midfielder says team needs to study opponent to seek victory in Sunday's derby.
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
"An exemplary student" of Vanderlei Luxemburgo, who only has praise for "the most tactical player he has ever worked with," midfielder Maldonado wants to do his homework on Sunday (October 24.10th) against Vasco, at Engenhão. In 2009, it only took him to enter the Flamengo team for the team to get it right and string together a great sequence of positive results. This year, Maldonado has already started on the right foot under the command of the new old coach.
Back in the starting lineup after being called up to the Chilean national team, he was on the field in the 3-0 victory over Inter at Engenhão, and hopes to repeat the success this weekend. For the player, however, the mission will not be easy. He believes that the regional derby is always a different, special match, and asks his teammates to pay attention to the game. According to him, it is necessary to study the rival well to go onto the field already knowing what to do.
"Against Vasco, it's just another game, but it's important because it's a derby and also to distance us even further from the relegation zone. It will be complicated. We're coming off a good run and anything that adds to our tally now is important. We're going to study Vasco well, work hard, so we can get this victory," he said.
Despite being encouraged by his good form, Maldonado prefers not to think about the top four yet. According to him, it's necessary to maintain focus on the Copa Sudamericana and climb step by step to then dream of a spot in the 2011 Copa Libertadores.
"We can't think about the top four yet. We're far away. But working towards the Copa Sudamericana is important. It's a good competition for the club, for the players, and we have to go step by step, without skipping stages. But if everything goes right, if we win all eight games, we'd be up there and that would be great. But we have to think about the Copa Sudamericana first," he concluded.
Back in the starting lineup after being called up to the Chilean national team, he was on the field in the 3-0 victory over Inter at Engenhão, and hopes to repeat the success this weekend. For the player, however, the mission will not be easy. He believes that the regional derby is always a different, special match, and asks his teammates to pay attention to the game. According to him, it is necessary to study the rival well to go onto the field already knowing what to do.
"Against Vasco, it's just another game, but it's important because it's a derby and also to distance us even further from the relegation zone. It will be complicated. We're coming off a good run and anything that adds to our tally now is important. We're going to study Vasco well, work hard, so we can get this victory," he said.
Despite being encouraged by his good form, Maldonado prefers not to think about the top four yet. According to him, it's necessary to maintain focus on the Copa Sudamericana and climb step by step to then dream of a spot in the 2011 Copa Libertadores.
"We can't think about the top four yet. We're far away. But working towards the Copa Sudamericana is important. It's a good competition for the club, for the players, and we have to go step by step, without skipping stages. But if everything goes right, if we win all eight games, we'd be up there and that would be great. But we have to think about the Copa Sudamericana first," he concluded.
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