An attacking duo ready for responsibility
Young Vinícius Pacheco and Diego Maurício know they have a difficult mission ahead of them, but they are confident of success.
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
Replacing Vagner Love and Adriano is no easy task. Vinícius Pacheco and Diego Maurício know this and even avoid comparisons with the so-called Empire of Love, Flamengo's attacking duo in the first half of 2010. However, the young Flamengo forwards, expected to start against Botafogo, already know the recipe for success at Gávea: goals and dedication.
The duo never started playing together in an official match. Their first opportunity was in last Wednesday's (July 07.07) training match against Ituano. And Diego Maurício, 19, started well: he scored one of the goals in the 2-2 draw. Excited about the possibility of being in the starting eleven for the derby, he is betting on the success of the partnership with Pacheco.
"We're getting along and getting to know each other. In the last training match, we played together for the first time, and we're working, without pretensions, to help each other with whatever we need. We talk a lot and we know the responsibility we'll have playing up front," he said.
Vinícius Pacheco, a midfielder by trade, reveals that playing further forward is nothing new for him. Seeing no problem in playing as a second striker, the 25-year-old Pacheco praises Diego and dreams of a triumphant debut for the duo on Wednesday (July 14.07) against Botafogo.
"I'm adapting. In the last few games of the Brazilian Championship, I've been playing in this role, playing alongside Vagner Love, and now I'm paired with Diego Maurício, who is a young player with a lot of potential. I hope this attack stays sharp and that we can do well in the game against Botafogo to help Flamengo win this important derby," he noted.
A major revelation in the current generation of Flamengo's youth academy, Diego has already played five games for Flamengo, but has never started and has yet to score a goal. Vinícius, promoted for the first time in 2004, has already played 78 games, scored six goals and provided ten assists, in addition to two state titles (2004 and 2008) and a Copa do Brasil (2006).
Check out the photo gallery on Flamengo's Official Website
The duo never started playing together in an official match. Their first opportunity was in last Wednesday's (July 07.07) training match against Ituano. And Diego Maurício, 19, started well: he scored one of the goals in the 2-2 draw. Excited about the possibility of being in the starting eleven for the derby, he is betting on the success of the partnership with Pacheco.
"We're getting along and getting to know each other. In the last training match, we played together for the first time, and we're working, without pretensions, to help each other with whatever we need. We talk a lot and we know the responsibility we'll have playing up front," he said.
Vinícius Pacheco, a midfielder by trade, reveals that playing further forward is nothing new for him. Seeing no problem in playing as a second striker, the 25-year-old Pacheco praises Diego and dreams of a triumphant debut for the duo on Wednesday (July 14.07) against Botafogo.
"I'm adapting. In the last few games of the Brazilian Championship, I've been playing in this role, playing alongside Vagner Love, and now I'm paired with Diego Maurício, who is a young player with a lot of potential. I hope this attack stays sharp and that we can do well in the game against Botafogo to help Flamengo win this important derby," he noted.
A major revelation in the current generation of Flamengo's youth academy, Diego has already played five games for Flamengo, but has never started and has yet to score a goal. Vinícius, promoted for the first time in 2004, has already played 78 games, scored six goals and provided ten assists, in addition to two state titles (2004 and 2008) and a Copa do Brasil (2006).
Check out the photo gallery on Flamengo's Official Website