Recent past that motivates for the classic
Fla x Flu from the State Championship serves as inspiration for Rubro-negro to pack in the Brasileirão
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
When the derby against Fluminense, in the State Championship, this year, Flamengo had its best performance of the year. Time passed, the characters changed, but the motivation of that comeback, on January 31, makes the red-and-black players, this Wednesday (26.05), at 19:30 pm, at Maracanã, more focused than ever to get the second victory in the Brasileirão.
Scorer of one of the goals in that 5-3 comeback against Tricolor Carioca, Vagner Love hopes that Flamengo will repeat, in this match, the inspiring second half of that day.
"It's definitely a great memory for us. We played a great second half, with a man down, but it was still difficult. We know it's a different story now. It's a classic, a game that's been going on for a while and has a lot of importance. It'll be tough, but the group's focus is on winning. We know that if we win, Flamengo can climb the table, and that's the intention," said Vagner Love, who could play more centrally in the box.
"I don't mind playing like that. I can play as a striker who moves more or stays more still. For me, it doesn't matter. I don't see any problem in doing what the coach asks," the striker explained, explaining the red-and-black's possible tactical formation for the derby.
Going beyond tactics, especially in this time of speculation, coach Rogério Lourenço makes a point of giving morale to those who will play in the classic.
"This team has faced off-field problems several times. These speculations won't distract us from Wednesday's game. We're focused on always motivating those who are here, those who will play. The group has shown that it can overcome problems. That was the case with the elimination from the Libertadores. We came out of an important competition and won the Brasileirão. Furthermore, we performed well on the field," explained the Flamengo coach.
And regarding Fluminense, Rogério made a point of making some reservations about the red-black squad.
"Everyone knows Fluminense has a great team. Whether Fred plays or not, we're ready to face them. This striker's quality is undeniable, but they have other players who can make things worse. We have to be alert at all times. It's a derby, it involves a rivalry, we know all that, but we're going to go for a win," concluded Rogério.
Tie-breaker
Flamengo and Fluminense will face each other for the 40th time in the Brazilian Championship and this could be the tiebreaker, as the clubs have the same number of victories in direct confrontations in this competition: 14 for each side and 11 draws.
And two well-known figures will be on opposing sides in this duel. Muricy Ramalho, current coach of Fluminense, and Vagner Love were together at Palmeiras last year and built a good relationship, according to the Flamengo striker. Even so, the "Artilheiro do Amor" (Love's Gunner) promises to surpass his former coach.
"It will be a great reunion. We worked together and I know he's a great professional. I'm happy to be in Rio, with Fluminense, but in this game, I'm going to do my part. I'm here to get Flamengo a win and I'll always do that," Love concluded.
TECHNICAL SHEET
FLUMINENSE X FLAMENGO
Stadium: Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro
Date/Time: 26/05/2010 - 19:30 PM
Referee: Marcelo de Lima Henrique (RJ)
Assistants: Marco Aurelio Pessanha (RJ) and Ricardo de Almeida (RJ)
FLUMINENSE: Rafael, Mariano, Gum, Leandro Euzébio and Carlinhos; Diogo, Diguinho, Marquinho and Conca; Rodriguinho and Fred (André Lima or Alan). Coach: Muricy Ramalho.
FLAMENGO: Bruno, Leo Moura, David, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Toro, Romulo, Fernando and Ramon (Camacho); Vinicius Pacheco and Vagner Love. Coach: Rogério Lourenço.
Scorer of one of the goals in that 5-3 comeback against Tricolor Carioca, Vagner Love hopes that Flamengo will repeat, in this match, the inspiring second half of that day.
"It's definitely a great memory for us. We played a great second half, with a man down, but it was still difficult. We know it's a different story now. It's a classic, a game that's been going on for a while and has a lot of importance. It'll be tough, but the group's focus is on winning. We know that if we win, Flamengo can climb the table, and that's the intention," said Vagner Love, who could play more centrally in the box.
"I don't mind playing like that. I can play as a striker who moves more or stays more still. For me, it doesn't matter. I don't see any problem in doing what the coach asks," the striker explained, explaining the red-and-black's possible tactical formation for the derby.
Going beyond tactics, especially in this time of speculation, coach Rogério Lourenço makes a point of giving morale to those who will play in the classic.
"This team has faced off-field problems several times. These speculations won't distract us from Wednesday's game. We're focused on always motivating those who are here, those who will play. The group has shown that it can overcome problems. That was the case with the elimination from the Libertadores. We came out of an important competition and won the Brasileirão. Furthermore, we performed well on the field," explained the Flamengo coach.
And regarding Fluminense, Rogério made a point of making some reservations about the red-black squad.
"Everyone knows Fluminense has a great team. Whether Fred plays or not, we're ready to face them. This striker's quality is undeniable, but they have other players who can make things worse. We have to be alert at all times. It's a derby, it involves a rivalry, we know all that, but we're going to go for a win," concluded Rogério.
Tie-breaker
Flamengo and Fluminense will face each other for the 40th time in the Brazilian Championship and this could be the tiebreaker, as the clubs have the same number of victories in direct confrontations in this competition: 14 for each side and 11 draws.
And two well-known figures will be on opposing sides in this duel. Muricy Ramalho, current coach of Fluminense, and Vagner Love were together at Palmeiras last year and built a good relationship, according to the Flamengo striker. Even so, the "Artilheiro do Amor" (Love's Gunner) promises to surpass his former coach.
"It will be a great reunion. We worked together and I know he's a great professional. I'm happy to be in Rio, with Fluminense, but in this game, I'm going to do my part. I'm here to get Flamengo a win and I'll always do that," Love concluded.
TECHNICAL SHEET
FLUMINENSE X FLAMENGO
Stadium: Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro
Date/Time: 26/05/2010 - 19:30 PM
Referee: Marcelo de Lima Henrique (RJ)
Assistants: Marco Aurelio Pessanha (RJ) and Ricardo de Almeida (RJ)
FLUMINENSE: Rafael, Mariano, Gum, Leandro Euzébio and Carlinhos; Diogo, Diguinho, Marquinho and Conca; Rodriguinho and Fred (André Lima or Alan). Coach: Muricy Ramalho.
FLAMENGO: Bruno, Leo Moura, David, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Toro, Romulo, Fernando and Ramon (Camacho); Vinicius Pacheco and Vagner Love. Coach: Rogério Lourenço.