Who will be the Emperor's replacement?
The Medical Department vetoes Adriano, and Andrade now has another question: who to line up alongside Love.
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
Bruno Mezenga and Vinícius Pacheco are simultaneously very similar and very different players. Both were born in the youth ranks, took a while to establish themselves in the professional team, and their lineups were long viewed with suspicion by some fans. One plays more as a reference point in the box, the other, dropping into the wings and coming from behind.
And that's precisely where the difference lies that will make Andrade choose one or the other when it comes to choosing Flamengo's starting lineup for this Sunday's derby against Vasco at Maracanã. Without Adriano, ruled out by the Medical Department due to back pain, the coach will only decide who will form the attacking duo with Vagner Love moments before the ball rolls.
"I don't know yet if I'll play, but if I do, I hope to perform. I know the responsibility of replacing Adriano, who is a very important player for Flamengo, and I'll do my best to be a capable replacement," said Mezenga, who has scored four goals in eight matches this year.
With nine assists in 18 games this season, 14 of them as a starter, Vinícius Pacheco is an option to add pace to the team. If selected, he'll play improvised up front, but he sees no problem playing this way, especially alongside Vagner Love.
"I'm calm. I've played like that before and I don't see any problem with playing up front. Love would play more centrally and I'd drop to the wings. He's an intelligent, fast player with great technique. My connection with him is very good and I'm sure it will be easy to play with him up front if I move up front," he noted.
With Vinícius Pacheco on the field, Flamengo won 13 of their 18 games in 2010. They drew three and lost two. With Mezenga, they won six, drew one, and lost one.
And that's precisely where the difference lies that will make Andrade choose one or the other when it comes to choosing Flamengo's starting lineup for this Sunday's derby against Vasco at Maracanã. Without Adriano, ruled out by the Medical Department due to back pain, the coach will only decide who will form the attacking duo with Vagner Love moments before the ball rolls.
"I don't know yet if I'll play, but if I do, I hope to perform. I know the responsibility of replacing Adriano, who is a very important player for Flamengo, and I'll do my best to be a capable replacement," said Mezenga, who has scored four goals in eight matches this year.
With nine assists in 18 games this season, 14 of them as a starter, Vinícius Pacheco is an option to add pace to the team. If selected, he'll play improvised up front, but he sees no problem playing this way, especially alongside Vagner Love.
"I'm calm. I've played like that before and I don't see any problem with playing up front. Love would play more centrally and I'd drop to the wings. He's an intelligent, fast player with great technique. My connection with him is very good and I'm sure it will be easy to play with him up front if I move up front," he noted.
With Vinícius Pacheco on the field, Flamengo won 13 of their 18 games in 2010. They drew three and lost two. With Mezenga, they won six, drew one, and lost one.