Numbers are a key ally in Petkovic's career at Flamengo. The player is entering his fifth year wearing the red-and-black jersey, and at Gávea, he's become an idol. The statistics prove why. He's won four titles, two State Championships, a Champions' Cup, and a Brazilian Championship. He's scored 52 goals, making him the club's top scorer between 2000 and 2009. And this Wednesday, against Americano, the number 43 will have another milestone to be proud of in his time with the Red-and-Blacks: he'll reach 150 appearances for the club.

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And the Serbian, at 37, will start playing. While he returned to Flamengo in 2009 still surrounded by doubts, he's starting 2010 in a very different way: he's seen as a threat to opposing defenses. He proved he turned things around in the final stretch of the 2009 Brazilian Championship and was the maestro of their sixth championship. In his first game this year, against Volta Redonda, he only came on in the second half, but he scored. Therefore, expectations are high to see the foreigner on the field against the team from Campos.

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"Petkovic is a player who needs no introduction. He's a high-quality midfielder who has already proven his talent to everyone. He's already back scoring goals, and he's a great addition to us, a guy who can make a difference up front and worry the opposition," said midfielder Fernando.

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Concerned about the player's physical condition, coach Andrade has been talking extensively with him during training. This time, it was no different. The manager reveals that Pet was only named in the starting lineup because he agreed to it, and assures that the number 43 will play as long as he feels well. If he starts, he has complete freedom to request a substitution during the match.

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"Our team is no mystery. Pet starts playing. Whether he'll last both halves, I don't know, but as I've been saying, I'm talking to him a lot and we'll continue like this. We decided to have him start, but if he gets tired, he'll ask to leave," he explained.

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Learn more about the career by Dejan Petkovic in the Club's Official Virtual Encyclopedia: Flapédia. And also check out the list of all games of Pet wearing the Flamengo shirt until the end of 2009 on the Fla Estatística website.