On Thursday night (10), Flamengo drew 0-0 with Ponte Preta in the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil. Thanks to the 1-0 victory in the first leg, Rubro-Negro advanced to the next phase. After the match, coach Maurício Barbieri spoke to the press in a press conference at Maracanã and commented on the team's performance.

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“In situations like today’s, we’ll have to find solutions. Despite Ponte Preta being at a disadvantage, they closed ranks and played for a single opportunity. They even found that chance, and we talked about it in the locker room. We didn’t play as we would have liked; we wanted the game to flow more. We’ll talk and find ways to act and resolve situations like these. Their team was already conservative at Moisés Lucarelli and again today, but we managed to create even more chances here at the Maracanã. Things won’t always click, but we never stopped trying to create opportunities,” Barbieri assessed.

“Internacional came with the same attitude and we managed to find spaces. (The result) has more to do with the rhythm we managed to impose. We had control of the game and possession of the ball, but these things happen. I congratulated the players on qualifying and we remain alive in all competitions, that's what we need to think about,” said Maurício.

Commenting on Everton Ribeiro's performance, the coach praised the number 7. “We've been talking to him about getting closer and playing more centrally at times. He's a player who has been improving a lot in recent matches, and the goal in the last game shows that. He's on an upward trajectory, and so is the whole team. We didn't play the game we wanted, but the team is getting better and better,” said the coach.

With this result, Flamengo has now gone eight games unbeaten under coach Maurício Barbieri. However, he doesn't take all the credit for himself. “These are eight unbeaten matches for Flamengo, not for Maurício. I don't consider it my achievement, but rather the team's, the coaching staff's as a whole. This makes me satisfied and happy to continue working and seeking more victories,” he commented.

Flamengo returns to the field next Sunday (13), when they face Chapecoense, at 16 pm, at Arena Condá, in Chapecó (SC). For the Copa do Brasil, Mais Querido awaits the draw to find out their opponent in the quarter-finals, but will only play after the World Cup break.

Thinking about the next match in the Brazilian Championship, Barbieri finished by talking about whether or not to rest the squad in Chapecó. “We're going to evaluate the players now to see if anyone is fatigued, if there's a risk of injury. That way we'll decide if we'll rest anyone. We're also evaluating the players returning from injury, and the medical department may or may not clear them for Sunday,” he concluded.