After the 0-0 draw that ended the Brazilian Championship for Flamengo, coach Zé Ricardo analyzed the match, the season and has already shifted focus to 2017. For the coach, the team played a balanced game against the tournament's best home team and ended the year with a "positive balance".
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Check out the main excerpts from the interview:
Third place
We didn't come here just for the money. Of course, the prize money is important to the club, but we came here to play well against an excellent team, the best home team in the competition, and to show ourselves that we had what it took to win here.
Draw and future
Up until a certain point, we played a well-balanced match, with a few chances. We knew Atlético-PR would press; they needed a win to avoid relying on anyone else. We're finishing the year on a positive note and looking forward to the coming year.
Positive final balance
It was an extremely difficult year, logistically speaking. We gave the team a new look, an organized approach, and the team found a way to play. On top of that, we achieved a score that could have won us the title, but Palmeiras had a virtually error-free campaign and deserved it. We fought until the end. The fans can expect a team that will start next year with something in hand. We intend to maintain our core and make a few one-off signings. And next year, we'll aim for another strong year, but with titles, because the fans deserve it.
Learning for 2017
Structuring a team and giving it a new look isn't easy. It takes time and training. We found a good way to play. We faced tough opponents in the competition and understand that we're starting 2017 off with a promising start. We need to work more on our strengths and see where we went wrong. Training will be increasingly valued so we can create options within this style of play and win titles.
Coach Zé Ricardo
I can only thank the board, president, players, and fans, who had the patience to wait. What will change for next year is the scale of the responsibility. We have a huge fan base hungry for titles, and we will work to strengthen what we have, reduce mistakes, and avoid accidental situations so that in 2017 Flamengo can get closer to winning titles. I am constantly growing. Certainly, Zé, who started, was one person, and now he is another because I have had so many experiences. I see myself constantly learning and taking all these experiences for the future. I am a coach who managed to do the work that brought Flamengo to the Libertadores, which is important. Unfortunately, the title didn't come, but we understand that, with the help of the committee, we did a very good job. The credit isn't just mine; it belongs to everyone and to the players who understood and were able to put into practice what we believe in to play good football.