Flamengo's defense, which became solid late in the Brazilian Championship and was crucial to winning its sixth national championship in 2009, has been below expectations at the start of the season. The team has already conceded 12 goals in just six games in the Campeonato Carioca. And in this Sunday's match against Boavista in Volta Redonda, coach Andrade will be without key defensive players.

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Ronaldo Angelim, David, Willians, and Toró are all out. Therefore, defender Fabrício and midfielder Lenon have great opportunities to shine. One will replace Angelim and the other Toró. The duo, who grew up in Flamengo's youth academy, are excited about the new opportunity. Fabrício even hopes to break a taboo in Brazilian football.

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"Our culture says that two right-handed players can play together, but two left-handed players can't. There's always talk about this, that the team plays crookedly with two left-handed players in defense and so on... But with two right-handed players, they don't say it's crooked. Left-handed players are known in soccer for being unique players. I just don't understand why they can't play together in defense, in the middle... That's funny. It's part of Brazilian soccer folklore," he said.

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Lenon, for his part, assures that the experience gained in the sixth-world title campaign has made him a more mature player, which he won't feel as much when he steps onto the field this Sunday. After all, the tension of winning the first title is already a thing of the past.

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"It will be a great opportunity to showcase my work. Andrade knows he can count on me whenever he needs me, so much so that last year he gave me several opportunities and I was able to participate in winning the Brazilian Championship in my first year as a professional. Therefore, although I'm aware of the responsibility of representing Flamengo and excited about this opportunity, I no longer have the same anxiety as I did for the first time," he explained.

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Regarding criticism of the defense, Fabrício does as the rest of the team has been doing: he emphasizes that the work is still in its early stages, and that, with time, everything will improve.

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"It's normal for criticism to appear when the team is still adjusting. But I'm prepared for anything that can happen on the field," he concluded.