New coach arrives talking about reaction in the Brasileirão
Silas believes the gap to the leader can be closed and asks for fan support for the breakthrough
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in"Going past Flamengo and not being champions is nothing. You have to be champions." This statement demonstrates the optimism of the new Flamengo coach, Silas, during his official presentation this Monday (August 30.08th) in Gávea. The manager arrived saying that he believes the gap to the top teams in the table is considerable, but he is betting that the Gávea team can start in the Brasileirão as it did in last year's sixth championship campaign.
\"We're 16 points behind the leader [Fluminense]. It's a considerable distance, but we can't go into the fifth or sixth round of the second half without a chance of anything, not even the Libertadores. That can't happen to Flamengo. We have tough games ahead, but we have every chance of winning them," he said.
\One way to ensure this reaction is to strengthen harmony between players and fans. According to him, both the new coaching staff and the fans must support the group and prove that they can make a difference.
\"We need to give the player morale and the fans have to be with us in this. I've never seen a booed athlete improve. If we're going to count on this squad, we have to give these guys a hand. If they're here, it's because they're capable. Flamengo fans are just another player and they know it," said the coach, who will be in charge of the team on Wednesday (01.09), against Cruzeiro, in Uberlândia.
\"I was analyzing Flamengo's schedule. We have Cruzeiro, Santos, São Paulo, Grêmio, a classic. There aren't any easy games. We have Ceará, in Fortaleza. We'll take it game by game, perhaps the more or less good note for the debut is that I played against Cruzeiro for Grêmio less than a month ago (a 2-2 draw) and I have in mind what Cuca can bring to the field. We won't have Diogo (left ankle injury), we'll have to change the player up front, and the team's adjustment will be based on conversation," he concluded.
\Flamengo travels to Minas Gerais this Tuesday morning (August 31.08st). The players will arrive at Santos Dumont Airport at 7:15 am.
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