After training held on Friday morning (19), the red-black commander Zé Ricardo spoke to journalists in the press room at the George Helal Training Center, in Vargem Grande. The coach commented on the qualities and style of play of Grêmio, next Sunday's opponent (21), in addition to talking about the possible debut of midfielder Diego and possible formations that the team could adopt for the confrontation.

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We tested a few options this week, and it was a lot of work. With the absences in the squad and Diego's debut, we analyzed some tactical variations during this period. We'll probably decide on the team by tomorrow. I'll evaluate it with the coaching staff, but I already have a good portion of the team in mind.

It's a game that requires a lot of mobilization. Grêmio has one of the most organized teams in the Brasileirão. They've kept their coach for a long time, and Roger has been doing a very good job. It's a team with a lot of strength in its behavior. We'll need to play a near-perfect match to come away with a good result. With such a balanced championship, with a small gap between the top teams, games like this become even more important.

Diego's debut for Flamengo

Every player, after a period of absence, needs time to readapt. Diego's best performance won't come now, but later, as match rhythm is crucial. He will bring a lot to the team technically, regardless of the playing platform we use. Diego has been working hard to improve his fitness, and all this dedication gives him a sense of accomplishment for his debut.

As for the best formation, it largely depends on the positioning of the players on the flanks, with and without the ball. We're testing a few variations during training, evaluating what works and what we're struggling with.

This is the question that gives meaning to our work. It's what drives all athletes to perform at their best in training. These exercises are our guide when making these choices. What we want most is for our team to be both competitive and technical. They are all very focused on their work.

It changes the logistics a bit in terms of travel and daily life. Brazilian players aren't used to it yet. As a spectacle, it seems good to me. The audience likes it, more families come to the stadium, and they can even enjoy the post-game as a day of leisure. Commercially, it seems to be well received, and since this is our reality, we have to adapt.