Now it's up to him! Flamengo returns to betting on Gabigol after controversial period

Despite still being the only Brazilian team in all competitions, distrust regarding Tite's work is high, and the SporTV bench shows skepticism about Flamengo's chances in this final stretch of the year. Caio Ribeiro, Ricardinho and Richarlyson analyzed the dispute in the Libertadores and Brasileirão, expressing disbelief in the possibilities of titles.

Richarlyson, for example, believes that Flamengo is no longer in the fight for the Brasileirão. He argues that the defeat in Rio Grande do Sul removed the team from contention, especially with the victories of Botafogo, Palmeiras and Fortaleza.

“I think Flamengo is out of the Brazilian title after the defeat of Grêmio. (In the middle of the week) De la Cruz and Arrascaeta were below physically speaking. If they had played against Grêmio, they probably wouldn't have been 100% against Peñarol. In my opinion he (Tite) did it right. It's going to be a strong, tight game. The Uruguayans will hit. You will need the players with all their energy. It will be worth it (having saved) if the players return with the classification”, stated the commentator.

Ricardinho shares the same opinion and agrees with Richarlyson. “Can Flamengo recover? It can, but it doesn't just depend on him. I think that Flamengo is currently out of the Brasileirão”, he added.

It's not just in the Brasileirão that the SporTV bench sees Flamengo with no chance of winning titles. Caio Ribeiro does not believe that Flamengo will be able to come back against Peñarol away from home. The former player expresses his desire to be wrong, but is clear in his analysis.

“I think Flamengo won't pass. I don't think Flamengo will be able to win the game. I support Flamengo, I would like it to go through, but the defeat at home weighs heavily”, commented Caio.

Furthermore, Caio Ribeiro suggests that Flamengo, under the command of Tite, should try harder in the final stretch of the season. Brasileirão.

“I think Tite has to finish the Brazilian championship, because of what he represents. We play for Flamengo, I know that pressure from the fans greatly influences the board's decision. And the fans are picking on Tite. I recognize that Flamengo has not been playing good football, the squad has more to offer. My criticism of Tite, more than technical, is the casting. He has an injury that is due to trauma, there is no way to predict it, and he has other muscular injuries. There was a lack of balance to spare important players and give space to the kids”, concluded the former Flamengo player.

Born in Rio de Janeiro, created by Flamengo and with a resume full of titles in Brazilian football, midfielder Camacho granted an exclusive to Lance! and talked about the trajectory of his career. With glorious spells at Corinthians, Atheltico-PR, Botafogo and Santos, the midfielder recalled memorable moments.

Camacho arrived at Rubro-Negro at a very young age, at nine years old. For the Rio club, he spent his entire career at the youth level, playing futsal until making his professional debut in 2008. He was loaned to Paraná to gain experience, but was part of the star-studded Brazilian champion squad of 2009.

Despite very young, the player remembers the dressing room with some of the team's stars, and the importance of these players and the young players at the base.

– A very good experience. He had played for Flamengo since he was nine years old. I did my entire base there, I spent a lot of time at the club. In the first few years we already managed to become Brazilian champions with that team that made history. I didn't play much, I was moving up, so I was starting to understand what a professional is like. A lot of difference from the base. But for me it was really good, playing with so many stars, winning that title and being able to make history at Flamengo.

– Everyone had their own way of leading. There were a lot of guys with names already. Adriano was an idol. When he arrived in the locker room, the base people didn't really know what to do. He was very respected, and on the field there wasn't much to talk about. He and the Petkovics were the main players in that title. Pet was more into himself, more closed off. Léo Moura was more of a reviewer, Adriano too, he treated everyone at the base super well. It was a time when the team got along very well, which is why they managed to win the title.

After Flamengo, the player ended up being loaned to some clubs such as Paraná, Goiás, Bahia, until he arrived at Audax , when he reached the final of the Campeonato Paulista in 2026, against Corinthians. From then on, it was a turning point in Camacho's career.

– It was a very good period. A turning point in my life. I arrived at Corinthians at 26 years old, I was already a little older, so I was more prepared. I managed to have a good streak, I played several games, we managed to win some titles. I was Brazilian champion and two from São Paulo. It was the main club of my career. I have a lot to thank Corinthians for, because from then on my career began to flow.

In the midst of contracts at Timão, the player was loaned to Athletico-PR and experienced the club's best moment, winning a South American and a Brazilian Cup.

– I arrived in 2018 and it was already a very good team. We saw that it was going to work, so much so that we were South American champions. Then, Athletico asked for another year on loan and Corinthians gave in, and I started very well, with a good sequence of games.

After winning a Brasileirão, Sudamericana, two Campeonato Paulistas and Brazilian Cup. Camacho revealed which title marked him most in his career.

– The one that marked me most was the 2017 Brasileirão with Corinthians. It was what I played the most, I participated in almost all the games.

The good run under Tiago Nunes led to the midfielder returning to Corinthians, alongside the coach, and staying at the club for another two years. paulista, until being sold to Santos, in 2021.

At Alvinegro Praiano, Camacho stayed for three seasons. During the period, Santos experienced ups and downs. Despite the fight against relegation, in 2021 and 2022, the club remained alive and secure in the middle of the table. But he was unable to escape relegation in 2023.

After three seasons at Peixe, Camacho signed with Guarani to play in Série B this season. Bugre is currently bottom of the league and is fighting against relegation to the third division. The player spoke about changing coaches during the season.

– I arrived at the beginning of the year, and it was difficult. The team couldn't fit in. There were a lot of coach changes, at the state level there were two, by the time I was there there had already been five coaches, so the team couldn't achieve results. It's been a difficult year, but I hope that Guarani will be able to escape in this final stretch.

The midfielder ended his contract with Guarani in the middle of the year and reveals that he is preparing himself individually to return next season .

– I'm training for next year. Preparing myself on the outside, I hired a physical trainer to train every day. I don't think about retiring now. I have at least three or four more years to play.

With Flamengo's defeat to Peñarol in the Libertadores, it was necessary to bear the nuances of a winner who was not content with victory on the field, but needed to celebrate away from home, almost provoking the locals. The Uruguayan team left the locker room with lots of celebration, laughter and music.

The Peñarol players passed through the Maracanã mixed zone with a speaker playing Uruguayan music. The athletes were happy and smiling. But some even passed by, looking at the Brazilian journalists with a sideways smile, in an air of mockery while the music played.

The party was led by defender Guzmán Rodríguez, who passed by holding the speaker . It was the athlete who gave some ironic looks to the journalists, unable to contain his happiness at beating Flamengo 1-0 last Thursday night (19).

After passing through the mixed zone, some Uruguayan players took the wrong path and went straight ahead instead of returning behind the banners towards the visiting bus. Stadium security had to prevent them from going to the restaurant area, where Flamengo had dinner after the match.

After the 1-0 defeat, it's up to Flamengo to turn things around away from home. Rubro-Negro dreams of a fourth championship, and to do so, they need to reach the semifinals by eliminating Peñarol. If you win by a goal difference, the decision will go to penalties. To qualify directly, Mengão needs to win by two or more goals, waiting for Botafogo or São Paulo in the next phase.

With the defeat, Flamengo saw its positive record fall when playing as home team in the World Cup Liberators. There were 28 unbeaten games, chasing Boca Juniors' record. Furthermore, there were 17 consecutive victories, needing just two to equal El Nacional.