He arrived at Gávea in 2009 from Santo André and was met with skeptical looks. But with his energy, ball stealing, and attacking runs, he won over the fans. With a great sense of humor, he quickly adapted to the group and is now considered a key player at Flamengo. Willians has become a reference in the Flamengo midfield, he knows this, and hopes to continue bringing joy to the nation.

"I'm wearing myself out much more than I did last year and at the beginning of this year. I have to help... I'm here, I love Flamengo, the fans are wonderful, but I have to go out on the field and give my all. If it's up to me, I'll never lack energy when I wear the Flamengo shirt," said the player.

Coach Rogério Lourenço heaped praise on the player. According to him, Willians is tactically crucial and has a very successful future ahead of him.

"I'm happy with the way Willians has been performing. When forming the formation, I think I have to get the best out of the players, within their characteristics. In this formation, Willians occupies that line of three (players) in front of the defense very well, whether playing on the left or the right... He has a great run, vitality, and great marking ability. His role is impressive and important for the team. I see a very bright future for his career... He enjoys playing and helps our team a lot," he analyzed.

Numbers in favor - With Willians on the field in the 2009 Brazilian Championship, when he was the competition's top scorer, Flamengo played 30 matches, winning 15, drawing eight, and losing seven. They scored 46 goals and conceded 33. Without him, Flamengo played eight matches, winning four, drawing two, and losing two, scoring 12 goals and conceding 11. The player has already played 85 matches for Flamengo, scoring three goals, providing four assists, and receiving 27 cards (24 yellow and three red).

"I've always dedicated myself a lot on the field. I did what I had to do, and I'm happy with the fans' support. Thank God, they've been by my side, and I've always been very honest, both on and off the field. That's who I am; I do my job to the best of my ability and I try not to pay too much attention to criticism or praise so it doesn't affect me on the field," said the midfielder, who also praised the spirit of the red-and-black squad.

"The group is wonderful. This good humor, this joking around is good for everyone. There are no arguments or fights here. Everything is very calm. Everyone is united and I believe that this is a big difference," he concluded.

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