"Our biggest motivation is the fans."
Leonardo Moura believes that the strength of the fans motivates the players to seek victory
By Flamengo Archive - in
If a classic match is already capable of naturally motivating players, the fact that tomorrow's Fla-Flu match has already secured a record attendance for all divisions of the Brazilian Championship—78.409 tickets sold—has further boosted the Flamengo players' spirits. For right-back Leonardo Moura, the importance of a victory and the appeal of the match are a perfect combination to fuel the team tomorrow.
"Anyone who plays for Flamengo is already used to a packed Maracanã. There's no greater motivation than our fans. We're living a special moment because we're growing in the competition, and we have to keep up that momentum. It's good to know the stadium will be full; it'll be a beautiful celebration, and both teams are aiming for something bigger in the competition. A win is crucial for us to reach the top of the group," commented Leonardo Moura.
Despite the team's boost, the Flamengo defender emphasizes the difficulties of tomorrow's derby. For him, Fluminense's poor performance in the Brazilian Championship shouldn't be seen as an advantage for Flamengo.
"Everyone knows that Flamengo is in a better place these days, and we also know the difficulties Fluminense faces, being in the relegation zone. We've been through that too. They have a quality, dangerous team that can surprise. We can't afford to be careless and have to be prepared for anything that happens on the field," he warned.
In the fight for a result that will bring Flamengo closer to the top four, Leonardo Moura is confident in Adriano's good form and goals.
"He's a close friend of mine, I'm even biased. He's shown a willingness to help, his performance has improved every day, and with him in good shape, we're halfway to achieving a good result. I hope Adriano is inspired tomorrow."