ADRIANO IMPERADOR REGRETS NOT BEING A “CHAMPION AS A PROTAGONIST” IN FLAMENGO

After the 1-0 defeat to Peñarol, in the first game of the Libertadores quarter-finals, coach Tite held a press conference at Maracanã. The team did not perform well and was booed by the fans. Despite the setback, the coach remained confident for the second leg, which will be held in Uruguay.

Regarding the boos coming from the stands, Tite admitted that the fans' dissatisfaction is understandable. "Of course this hurts, especially on the human side. But experience shows that, when you deliver a good production, the fan's reaction is proportional to the love they feel for the club", said the coach, highlighting the emotional bond between the fans and the Most Dear.

FLAMENGO HAS NOT WIN AWAY SINCE 2022

The coach was also asked about the difficulty of Mengão in achieving victories away from home in the Libertadores, since 2022. The last victory away from home came on August 31, 2022, against Vélez Sarsfield, with an impressive 4-0. "We have a great opportunity to break this sequence This is part of the history of football, and I believe we are fully capable of getting there and changing this scenario", replied Tite, showing optimism.

EFFECTIVENESS IS THE FOCUS IN THE RETURN GAME

Tite guaranteed that the team will be more effective in Uruguay, promising a better performance. "Within two or three minutes, we score the goal, and from that point on, we work on the result. In some moments we were hasty, and the opposing goalkeeper also had merit. But I'm confident that we will create half of the opportunities and convert them into goals there. You can charge me later", said the coach, projecting a positive scenario for the second leg.

Argentine goalkeeper Agustín Rossi, who has been at Flamengo for over a year, has not yet fully adapted to the reactions of the fans during the games at Maracanã. After the 1-0 defeat to Peñarol, this Thursday (19), in the quarter-finals of the Libertadores, more than 60 thousand red and black booed the team, an attitude that displeased the player.

Rossi expressed his dissatisfaction with the booing that started in the first half. "The fans always want victory, that's normal. We also always look for a positive result. But I think these boos so early are unnecessary, just like what happened with Lorran during the Copa América. We still believe in the dispute. It was just a goal", commented the goalkeeper, showing confidence in the return game.

ERICK PULGAR BECOMES THE TARGET OF THE FANS

The boos at Maracanã they started in the 12th minute of the first half, after an error by Erick Pulgar when the ball was thrown, which resulted in Peñarol's goal. Since then, the Chilean has become the target of fans' dissatisfaction, who criticized him with every touch of the ball. In the second half, when he was substituted, Pulgar continued to be booed by the red and black team, reinforcing the tense atmosphere in the stadium. b>

In addition to the players, coach Tite was also the target of protests from the fans. Offenses were heard from the stands, which affected the coach, who admitted he was shaken by the insults. However, Tite preferred to focus on the future and showed optimism for the return game against the Uruguayan team.

FLAMENGO SEEKS REACTION IN URUGUAY

With a 1-0 deficit, Mengão will need to reverse the score in the second leg, which will be held next Thursday (26), at 7pm, at the Campeón del Siglo Stadium, in Montevideo. Flamengo < /a>needs a victory by two goals to advance directly to the semi-finals of the competition.

Former player Adriano, known as Imperador, officially announced that he will say goodbye to the pitch on December 15th, in a special friendly match at Maracanã. The match will be attended by former teammates from two of the most notable clubs of his career: Flamengo and Inter Milan. At 42 years old, Adriano will wear both shirts, playing time for each team.

< In an interview, Adriano commented on the importance of this moment for him and his fans. "A lot of people asked me to say goodbye. Despite having stopped a few years ago, I needed this match to finish my cycle. I owed it to everyone who supported and still supports me", said the former player.

Revealed by Mais Querido, Adriano played 94 games and scored 46 goals in his two spells at the club. In the first, in 2000, he helped Mengão win their second Rio championship and the Champions Cup. Upon his return to Brazil, in 2009, he was a key player in winning the Brazilian Championship.

SUCCESS ALSO IN EUROPE< /p>

At Inter Milan, Adriano consolidated his international career. Between 2001 and 2009, there were 177 matches and 74 goals, in addition to seven important titles, including four Italian championships and two Italian Cups. His performance in Italy earned him the nickname "Emperor", which accompanied him for the rest of his football career. b>

Adriano has not played professionally since 2016, when he played two games for Miami United, in the United States. Before that, the striker had spells at clubs such as Athletico-PR and Corinthians, but without repeating the success of his times at Inter and Flamengo. In recent years, the former player participated in charity events, such as the Zico Star Game and Futebol Solidário, which raised funds for victims of the floods in Rio Grande do Sul.

Adriano's farewell will be organized by the company MTR7, in partnership with MCAsport and the firm Diogo Souza Advogados. The former striker will be the host of the event, responsible for inviting and calling up the players who will participate in the friendly. The event promises to be a milestone in the history of Brazilian football, celebrating the career of one of the great idols of CRF and Inter Milan.