Maldonado wants the defense to be alert on Wednesday
Chilean believes the team will have to be even more prepared than in the match at Maracanã
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
Maldonado is a key player in Flamengo's defensive system. The experienced midfielder arrived at Gávea in the middle of last year and was considered a key player in the team's sixth Brazilian championship title. This season, he hopes to make history by winning the Copa Libertadores. To do so, the red-and-black team must first secure a spot in the quarterfinals next Wednesday against Corinthians in São Paulo.
And it won't be easy for the Chilean to accomplish this task. Maldonado believes the team needs to be even more calm and focused than they were in the first leg, played at Maracanã last Wednesday. According to him, the team needs to focus not only on not conceding goals but also on trying to score on the counterattack.
"We have to repeat the same attitude we had in the game here. The team played well, taking the initiative and going out to play. We know it's difficult to play there, but we can't go out there thinking only about a draw. First, we have to avoid conceding any goals, of course, and then we can manage the game patiently to try and surprise. I believe the defense will have to be even more prepared than in the game here at Maracanã, because Corinthians will definitely come out on the attack," he said.
The midfielder also believes that the opening minutes of the match are crucial for getting a feel for the game's outcome. According to him, it's important to neutralize Corinthians' attacking momentum.
"I think this attention is crucial in the first few minutes of the game. Their attack is very strong, and we have to be patient and calm to neutralize them. These training days are important for us to further improve our marking, which will be very important in Wednesday's game," he explained.
And it won't be easy for the Chilean to accomplish this task. Maldonado believes the team needs to be even more calm and focused than they were in the first leg, played at Maracanã last Wednesday. According to him, the team needs to focus not only on not conceding goals but also on trying to score on the counterattack.
"We have to repeat the same attitude we had in the game here. The team played well, taking the initiative and going out to play. We know it's difficult to play there, but we can't go out there thinking only about a draw. First, we have to avoid conceding any goals, of course, and then we can manage the game patiently to try and surprise. I believe the defense will have to be even more prepared than in the game here at Maracanã, because Corinthians will definitely come out on the attack," he said.
The midfielder also believes that the opening minutes of the match are crucial for getting a feel for the game's outcome. According to him, it's important to neutralize Corinthians' attacking momentum.
"I think this attention is crucial in the first few minutes of the game. Their attack is very strong, and we have to be patient and calm to neutralize them. These training days are important for us to further improve our marking, which will be very important in Wednesday's game," he explained.