With three goals in this Campeonato Carioca, striker Souza is in contention for the competition's top scorer. In the last game, against Macaé, the number 9 didn't find the net like he did in the first few matches, but against América, Souza hopes to score again for the red-and-black team.

- "Against Macaé, I'm aware that I didn't play a great game. I hope to score goals again in tomorrow's game against América. It will be a key game for our team, and I hope Flamengo can get another win."

Souza believes América will be well back against the team from Gávea.

- "Given their current situation, the game will be difficult. I think they'll play very defensively, going on the counterattack. Against Flamengo, teams always give something extra. We have to be alert."\ \ Souza will be playing at Engenhão for the first time, and he thinks the team may have some difficulty adapting to the pitch.\

- "It's a smaller field than we're used to playing on. We have to be smart and not force the ball down the middle," declared the red-and-black number 9.