Flamengo held its final training session on Tuesday morning (25) before traveling to face Corinthians in São Paulo. Before training at Field 5, coach Maurício Barbieri gave a press conference at Ninho do Urubu and spoke about the preparation, as well as projecting Wednesday's match.

"Time is short, and we need to focus more on the players' recovery than on working or training. We need to make important decisions, and I'll do so by analyzing the opponent's characteristics. I can't reveal that part, because on the other side there's a competent coach who's curious. We'll choose based on what Corinthians will present and what we have best," Barbieri stated.

Recalling the first game at Maracanã, the coach spoke about the opposing team's characteristics and Diego's return from suspension. "Their performance demonstrated some potential. I can't be sure they'll go with three defensive midfielders, who will have the fans pushing them, or a different approach than in the first match. They're likely to change that, as the fans themselves will demand more attacking. If Corinthians chooses to stay defensive, we have to remain calm and composed to put in a good performance. Diego's return is a huge help, as he's a player of undeniable quality, and his career reflects that. He's a significant asset to the squad. He trained yesterday and today. If he returns, it will be important," he analyzed.

Flamengo returns to the field this Wednesday (26), at 21:45 pm, when they face Corinthians at Arena Corinthians, in São Paulo. The match is valid for the second leg of the Copa do Brasil semifinals.

Every victory builds confidence and creates a better working environment. A significant result against a strong opponent like Atlético is always a good thing. Now we have a huge challenge against another great team. I don't think there's a favorite in a game like this, with two strong teams. We have everything we need to play a great match and seek an important qualification. It's the most important match of the year in the Copa do Brasil.

Any team facing a team sitting too deep has trouble finding space. The World Cup illustrated this in more than one example. It's a matter of space and moving the ball. We need to be efficient. We usually don't have many opportunities, and this already disarms the opponent's attack.

This isn't a new situation. We've already gone through other decisions that could have gone to penalties. We haven't had that yet this year, but we've prepared and are ready for that possibility. Our desire and objective is to win within 90 minutes. If it goes to penalties, we have great penalty takers and an excellent goalkeeper with a good track record.