Val Baiano: "Those who can't handle the pressure, leave."
The striker says he understands the fans' demands and promises a hard-fought 2011 full of goals and victories.
By From the official website team - in
2010 was not an easy year for Flamengo. Nor for Val Baiano. The center forward, who arrived at the club as one of the Rubro-negro's hopes for goals in the second half of the year, only managed to find the net after 11 matches. But he didn't care about the criticism, continued working and, beloved by the group, finished the season with three goals in 17 games and eager to score more next year.
Viewed with suspicion by some Flamengo fans at times in 2010, Val finishes the season with the support of the Nation and reveals the secret to his success: tranquility.
"Flamengo isn't impatient. I've been on the fans' side, and they want Flamengo to win every championship. The pressure exists all year round at Flamengo, and as Vanderlei Luxemburgo said, whoever can't handle the pressure leaves," stated the striker, who is organizing a charity football match this weekend in his hometown of Jequié, Bahia.
Val, the second-highest scorer in the 2009 Brazilian Championship with 18 goals, laments that opportunities didn't arise as often while playing for Flamengo, but he is confident that, with coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo, an offensive game plan will be implemented to emphasize the presence of the center forwards in the penalty area.
"The forwards struggled a lot in this championship, and only after Luxemburgo arrived did the ball start reaching the attack more frequently. Next year I hope that will improve so I can show what I can do," he said.
Val Baiano and the rest of the Flamengo squad will report back on Monday, January 3rd, to begin pre-season training in preparation for the challenges of 2011.
Viewed with suspicion by some Flamengo fans at times in 2010, Val finishes the season with the support of the Nation and reveals the secret to his success: tranquility.
"Flamengo isn't impatient. I've been on the fans' side, and they want Flamengo to win every championship. The pressure exists all year round at Flamengo, and as Vanderlei Luxemburgo said, whoever can't handle the pressure leaves," stated the striker, who is organizing a charity football match this weekend in his hometown of Jequié, Bahia.
Val, the second-highest scorer in the 2009 Brazilian Championship with 18 goals, laments that opportunities didn't arise as often while playing for Flamengo, but he is confident that, with coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo, an offensive game plan will be implemented to emphasize the presence of the center forwards in the penalty area.
"The forwards struggled a lot in this championship, and only after Luxemburgo arrived did the ball start reaching the attack more frequently. Next year I hope that will improve so I can show what I can do," he said.
Val Baiano and the rest of the Flamengo squad will report back on Monday, January 3rd, to begin pre-season training in preparation for the challenges of 2011.
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