He probably didn't imagine the start of the year would be so good at Gávea. However, after returning from a few loan spells, Vinícius Pacheco earned a starting spot and has been instrumental in the club's victories.

Last Sunday, in the 1-0 victory over Vasco, Pacheco conceded the penalty that led to the goal and insisted he was touched by the goalkeeper. However, the midfielder places the blame squarely on the match referee.

"I know it was a questionable play, where what mattered was the referee's interpretation. I can only say that I was touched by the Vasco goalkeeper. We collided. It was up to the referee to whistle the penalty," said Vinícius Pacheco, who is celebrating another 'calm' start to the week.

"Working hard and achieving victories is easier. The atmosphere is lighter. Especially when we need to recover physically. When things are bad, even recovery is slower. We won the Libertadores and the derby. I think this will help us a lot," explained the midfielder.

And when it comes to planning for the Copa Santander Libertadores, Vinícius Pacheco shows confidence in Flamengo's management.

"The schedule will be the same. Not much will change from last week to this one. We've already been instructed to get plenty of rest, and we'll stick to it. We know the competence of the people who work at Flamengo, and they'll set everything up just right. The fact that Chile is going through a difficult time, suffering from earthquakes, worries us. That's why we'll only be going to Santiago on Wednesday," said Pacheco, who is living a dream.

"I'm truly living a childhood dream. However, I only achieved this thanks to my work. I've been very dedicated and training hard. I played for other clubs a lot before returning to Flamengo and came back with more experience. I don't think anything happens by chance," he concluded.

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