A grand return for Romulo
The midfielder returns to the starting lineup with the right foot and dedicates his performance to God, Rogério Lourenço and Dr. Runco
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
Last Wednesday night was special for all the red-and-blacks. The team was about to play the most important game of the season so far, against Corinthians, in the round of 16 of the Libertadores. But for one of them, it was also a personal decision. Having not had a chance to showcase his football for two years and having to endure unfounded criticism in silence, Rômulo needed to excel in this golden opportunity given to him by coach Rogério Lourenço. And he did.
Showing great agility and fully recovered from the knee injuries that hampered his career in recent seasons, the young midfielder donned the number 26 jersey, went to war, and left the field highly praised by teammates, critics, and fans. It was quite a comeback for the Rio Grande do Sul native from Caxias do Sul, who had thought he would never repeat the success of 2007.
"I'm so happy. Everyone here at Flamengo has helped me so much. My teammates and the staff really believed in me, and I don't even have words to describe how I feel. It's wonderful. Sometimes I thought I wouldn't get another chance like this," said Rômulo.
The player also celebrated the fact that he played both as a false third defender and as a holding midfielder, protecting the defense. The midfielder also praised the excellent performance of Adriano, who scored the winning goal.
"In the first half, I played more as a third defender, covering Leo Moura's runs down the right. Then, I moved forward in front of the defense and ran more, but it was great because I did both my roles. And Adriano was crucial to the team. He once again showed his potential, proved he's different, and helped us achieve this victory," he explained.
In the hands of God and Dr. Runco
Rômulo dedicates his success in this first match to God, to Rogério Lourenço, who gave him this new opportunity, and also to Flamengo and the Brazilian National Team's doctor, José Luiz Runco, who oversaw his treatment for knee problems.
"God gave me this opportunity, and that's why I was always so calm. With every move, it felt like I had his support, and I felt very confident. I'd like to thank Rogério for the opportunity and also mention Dr. Runco, who believed in me from the beginning and helped me a lot during the difficult times I had," he explained.
Despite being thrilled with his performance, Rômulo knows this was just his first step toward returning to Flamengo's starting lineup. He promises to put in a lot of effort in the upcoming training sessions to repeat the feat in the second leg next Wednesday at Pacaembu Stadium.
"It's a different game, a battle that promises to be intense, but we have a fighting team and they proved it on Wednesday. The mood is great, the group's desire is different, and that something extra is important. I'm experiencing a similar atmosphere to 2007, that run, when everyone really wanted to help Flamengo reach its goal, and I'll dedicate myself completely to helping the team achieve this qualification," he added.
Showing great agility and fully recovered from the knee injuries that hampered his career in recent seasons, the young midfielder donned the number 26 jersey, went to war, and left the field highly praised by teammates, critics, and fans. It was quite a comeback for the Rio Grande do Sul native from Caxias do Sul, who had thought he would never repeat the success of 2007.
"I'm so happy. Everyone here at Flamengo has helped me so much. My teammates and the staff really believed in me, and I don't even have words to describe how I feel. It's wonderful. Sometimes I thought I wouldn't get another chance like this," said Rômulo.
The player also celebrated the fact that he played both as a false third defender and as a holding midfielder, protecting the defense. The midfielder also praised the excellent performance of Adriano, who scored the winning goal.
"In the first half, I played more as a third defender, covering Leo Moura's runs down the right. Then, I moved forward in front of the defense and ran more, but it was great because I did both my roles. And Adriano was crucial to the team. He once again showed his potential, proved he's different, and helped us achieve this victory," he explained.
In the hands of God and Dr. Runco
Rômulo dedicates his success in this first match to God, to Rogério Lourenço, who gave him this new opportunity, and also to Flamengo and the Brazilian National Team's doctor, José Luiz Runco, who oversaw his treatment for knee problems.
"God gave me this opportunity, and that's why I was always so calm. With every move, it felt like I had his support, and I felt very confident. I'd like to thank Rogério for the opportunity and also mention Dr. Runco, who believed in me from the beginning and helped me a lot during the difficult times I had," he explained.
Despite being thrilled with his performance, Rômulo knows this was just his first step toward returning to Flamengo's starting lineup. He promises to put in a lot of effort in the upcoming training sessions to repeat the feat in the second leg next Wednesday at Pacaembu Stadium.
"It's a different game, a battle that promises to be intense, but we have a fighting team and they proved it on Wednesday. The mood is great, the group's desire is different, and that something extra is important. I'm experiencing a similar atmosphere to 2007, that run, when everyone really wanted to help Flamengo reach its goal, and I'll dedicate myself completely to helping the team achieve this qualification," he added.