Renato explains the recipe for free kick goals
The supporter became famous for his aim with his left foot in set pieces like the one between Fla x Flu
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
Flamengo fans aren't just known as "King Vulture." The number 11, who returned to the club after three years in Arab football, also has another nickname: the Gávea Cannon. The explanation is simple: his powerful left-footed shot, which resulted in many free-kick goals, such as the one last Sunday (September 19.09) against Fluminense at the Engenhão stadium.
But anyone who thinks scoring goals this way is easy for him is mistaken. Quite the opposite. The defender reveals that scoring a free kick is much more complicated than it seems.
"A lot of people think it's just a matter of picking up the ball and shooting. They forget that there's a wall and quality goalkeepers. I've scored a lot of goals from free kicks, and I'm always trying to improve, but it's never easy. Thank God I had the opportunity to score this goal," said the player, who explained what his training for this type of play is like.
"It's a bit of technique and a bit of training. You have to have a kicking line so the ball can follow its trajectory. I always try to kick correctly and correct it during training. The most important thing is to keep your supporting foot close to the ball, so you don't kick it haphazardly," he explained.
Renato remembers that he started training set pieces while still at Corinthians, where he was in the company of other great takers.
"At the time, they had good free kick takers, like Rogério and Ricardinho. They told me to try taking free kicks, but I never tried. When they left, I started training more and improving. I've had leg strength for a long time, and it was just a matter of practicing it," he added.
But anyone who thinks scoring goals this way is easy for him is mistaken. Quite the opposite. The defender reveals that scoring a free kick is much more complicated than it seems.
"A lot of people think it's just a matter of picking up the ball and shooting. They forget that there's a wall and quality goalkeepers. I've scored a lot of goals from free kicks, and I'm always trying to improve, but it's never easy. Thank God I had the opportunity to score this goal," said the player, who explained what his training for this type of play is like.
"It's a bit of technique and a bit of training. You have to have a kicking line so the ball can follow its trajectory. I always try to kick correctly and correct it during training. The most important thing is to keep your supporting foot close to the ball, so you don't kick it haphazardly," he explained.
Renato remembers that he started training set pieces while still at Corinthians, where he was in the company of other great takers.
"At the time, they had good free kick takers, like Rogério and Ricardinho. They told me to try taking free kicks, but I never tried. When they left, I started training more and improving. I've had leg strength for a long time, and it was just a matter of practicing it," he added.
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