In Brasília, the Clássico dos Milhões between Flamengo and Vasco ended in a 2-2 draw, with Willian Arão and Orlando Berrío scoring the red-and-black goals. After the match, Zé Ricardo appeared in the press room at Mané Garrincha Stadium, where he gave a press conference.
The coach commented on the events of the match, which was decided by a controversial penalty awarded to the opponent in stoppage time. In addition to the play, he also discussed the Mais Querido's performance in the match, Renê's performance, and Marcelo Cirino's return to action wearing the Manto Sagrado.
See the main excerpts:
Badly awarded penalty
We realized it wasn't a penalty; no one needed to tell me. The ball clearly hit Renê's stomach; there was no doubt about it. We felt a bit aggrieved because it was a derby, a fierce rivalry, but I congratulate our athletes on the spectacle. I think it was an enjoyable spectacle for those who watched. Today, unfortunately, the victory didn't come due to factors unrelated to the game.
Renê's involvement in the bid
This doesn't change our assessment of the athlete under any circumstances. He's an extremely dedicated player who excels in his position. Renê's progress is clear. It's a good thing for Flamengo, who will certainly have an athlete who's always motivated and striving for his potential.
Red-black performance in the classic
After a first half where we didn't look our best, after the power outage, we were able to get the team back on track and focus more on our own performance than on Vasco's actual game plan. We deserved to turn the score around; we could have even scored more, but that's part of the game. Now it's time to focus on Volta Redonda and get the three points at Raulino de Oliveira.
Team dedication
After the lights went out, with 19 minutes remaining in the first half, we dominated the game. We played a second half with enough intensity to turn the match around. Congratulations to everyone for their dedication, from Muralha to Marcelo Cirino, who came on late. Everyone was incredibly enthusiastic, and it's a shame we didn't get the win.
Return of Marcelo Cirino
We know Marcelo is a player with specific qualities that are crucial for today's football. He's very motivated by this new opportunity he's getting at the club. As long as he's here, in his own words, he'll give his all. It will depend solely on his daily routine to prove he can return to the starting lineup.