With the best away campaign in the Brasilierão, close to the G-4 and five points behind the leader, the balance is positive and the team's evolution is highlighted by the coach.
"I think the results are very positive because we managed to regain confidence in such a short space of time, in a championship as difficult as the Brazilian Championship, with consecutive games. We need a balanced team that can perform well at all times, and overall, I believe we achieved these goals. We're only at the beginning of the competition, but some of the performances give us the confidence that we can think of better things to achieve better consistency," he says.
Zé Ricardo is betting on the team's development. Flamengo's interim coach believes the championship's even playing field qualifies 10 or 12 teams to compete for the top spots.
"From the start, I could tell it was a good, quality squad with strong cognitive abilities and responsible players who were committed to what was always proposed. I think that with the support of management, and everything going well off the field, we can only think positively and have the prospect of fighting for the top spots in the competition. We know it won't be easy, because we have at least 10 or 12 teams capable of fighting for the title, and I believe Flamengo is one of them," he highlighted.
With a balanced team, Zé Ricardo values Flamengo's good performances, such as yesterday's victory against Internacional, a direct rival in the fight for the G-4.
"It's important because we got the win against a tough opponent like Internacional, and we stayed close to the teams in the top four. We also believe that playing well was perhaps the most important factor, because it shows that we built the result. Important, but we still have a lot to improve on," he projects.
Finally, Zé Ricardo analyzes himself, highlighting his characteristics, methods and understanding of football.
"I think I'm a pretty straightforward person. I try to focus on the details, providing the athletes with as much information and content as possible. I also listen to the athletes a lot so that we can work together to develop and plan the best strategy for each match. I'm an easygoing guy who truly believes in the day-to-day, the work, and the environment. These are perhaps my main characteristics."
Now, the coach is preparing the team for the next challenge, against Corinthians, on Sunday, at 16 p.m., at Arena Corinthians. A victory will put the "Mais Querido" back in the group of teams qualified for the Copa Libertadores.