After the red-and-black victory with a strong collective performance at Pacaembu Stadium, Zé Ricardo held a press conference in the stadium's press room. The coach praised the Mais Querido's 2-0 victory over Figueirense, which leaves the team just one point off the top of the table. The coach also praised the team's performance, as Flamengo displayed a dominant performance throughout the match, conceding few clear-cut chances and creating numerous opportunities in attack.

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Our concern at the start of the game was the team's concentration and the intense heat. We were able to adjust the team before the game, as Figueirense's lineup surprised us a bit. We had a great performance and could have even scored more goals, but this was also largely due to Gatito's strong individual performance, with several important saves throughout the match.

I think it's every coach's job to find a formation that prioritizes the players' characteristics and strengths. They've been understanding what we're teaching them in training. Everyone is putting in a lot of effort, and we saw a team pushing itself repeatedly, even with a two-nil lead. Sometimes Réver, Arão, and Vaz all caught the players' attention. That's how a group is formed. It's also crucial that our options coming off the bench are performing well. There's a continuous need for improvement. We're approaching the final third of the competition and are striving to improve so we can stay in contention until the end.

Personally, it was incredibly emotional to return to Pacaembu. The playing conditions here are excellent, and the pitch is fantastic. As we walked through the stadium corridors, many memories of the São Paulo Junior Cup came to mind. With the exception of the match against Palmeiras, Flamengo has been enjoying its home away from home. Here, in Cariacica, Brasília. We were warmly welcomed everywhere. We were happy to bring all this joy to the fans.

We reiterate that the least important thing is who scores the goals. I'm pleased with the team's collective performance. We knew Figueirense would look for counterattacks and set pieces. We prepared to control the field from midfield forward, with a compact attack to avoid giving them rebounds. Naturally, our midfielders were more involved, given the opponent's defensive posture, and occupying the spaces in front of the box. The forwards are there to score goals. Damiao didn't convert the penalty thanks to Gatito's effort. Vizeu missed two chances, which is natural given his lack of rhythm and his eagerness to prove himself. Fortunately, they were chances that were not missed; however, it will be a point we will monitor.