A victory that can be worth more than three stumbles
If they beat La U by two goals in Santiago, Flamengo will leave behind a poor record against the Chileans.
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
In three games against Universidad de Chile in the Libertadores, Flamengo has yet to win a single match. However, if they beat their rivals by two goals next Thursday, they will eliminate them from the competition and advance. Therefore, for coach Rogério Lourenço and the team, this poor record shouldn't be taken into account ahead of the quarterfinals' second leg.
The coach praises the opponent, but remembers that in all these matches, both the two in the first phase and the first game of the quarterfinals, Flamengo ended up making some mistakes and making life easier for the Chileans.
"Universidad is a well-organized team with quality players, knows how to exploit counterattacks and play well away from home, but Flamengo hasn't played well against them. In the Maracanã match in the first round, we dominated the game, but conceded a very quick goal and another in the last minute. In Santiago, I wasn't there, but I watched and we conceded an early goal and then a technical error. This team has quality, is undefeated in the Libertadores and deserves all the credit for what they've done, but we have the ability to win in Chile," he observed.
Therefore, even recognizing the talent of "La U", Rogério does not hide his confidence in Flamengo's potential to seek this spot, with determination, even playing in Chile.
"In football, you always have to believe. If we didn't, we wouldn't even go there to play. We're tired of seeing teams with this or that record, undefeated in the competition, and then suddenly being beaten. They're a good team; they didn't get their results by chance; they deserve it. For Flamengo, nothing is easy. Those who are here know that. We have to believe and put it into practice on the field. There's no point in just paying lip service. The fans have to know that the players will strive to do their best," he said.
Not even the pressure that the local fans promise to exert on the Santa Laura stadium, which is small and promises to be a cauldron in Chile, takes away the coach's hopes.
"What matters least is the stadium and the pitch. We'll have to have, first and foremost, an organized team, but with heart above all else. They know that. Congratulations to their team, but we know we can improve and we'll strive for that," he concluded.
The coach praises the opponent, but remembers that in all these matches, both the two in the first phase and the first game of the quarterfinals, Flamengo ended up making some mistakes and making life easier for the Chileans.
"Universidad is a well-organized team with quality players, knows how to exploit counterattacks and play well away from home, but Flamengo hasn't played well against them. In the Maracanã match in the first round, we dominated the game, but conceded a very quick goal and another in the last minute. In Santiago, I wasn't there, but I watched and we conceded an early goal and then a technical error. This team has quality, is undefeated in the Libertadores and deserves all the credit for what they've done, but we have the ability to win in Chile," he observed.
Therefore, even recognizing the talent of "La U", Rogério does not hide his confidence in Flamengo's potential to seek this spot, with determination, even playing in Chile.
"In football, you always have to believe. If we didn't, we wouldn't even go there to play. We're tired of seeing teams with this or that record, undefeated in the competition, and then suddenly being beaten. They're a good team; they didn't get their results by chance; they deserve it. For Flamengo, nothing is easy. Those who are here know that. We have to believe and put it into practice on the field. There's no point in just paying lip service. The fans have to know that the players will strive to do their best," he said.
Not even the pressure that the local fans promise to exert on the Santa Laura stadium, which is small and promises to be a cauldron in Chile, takes away the coach's hopes.
"What matters least is the stadium and the pitch. We'll have to have, first and foremost, an organized team, but with heart above all else. They know that. Congratulations to their team, but we know we can improve and we'll strive for that," he concluded.