
Soccer
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After suffering elimination for Flamengo, in the Carioca semi-final, midfielder André "clashed" with the Band's report. When asked about the 13 consecutive classics without victory for the team led by Fernando Diniz, the player got angry and started citing the club's recent achievements.
"You're talking so much that we come from 13 classics without winning, but they forget to mention that we are two-time state champions, we just became Libertadores champions, we came back, trained for five days, and were Recopa champions. You talk a lot about the negative side. You have to talk about the work that has been built. ( Fernando) Diniz took over the team at Z-4, we were third in the Brazilian Championship, and last year champions of the Libertadores and the State Championship", said André.
“Our team made its real debut in this second match. We made a big mistake in the first game. Full credit to Flamengo. Our team, coming back a month after the others, we didn't play at the same level. Merit to Flamengo. Getting our heads straight, resting and having a good season", added André, still in the Maracanã lawn.
FLUMINENSE'S DECENDING SEQUENCE
With this Saturday's draw (16), Fluminense reached 13 classics without a victory, the biggest negative mark in the club's history. Of the sequence, seven were against Flamengo, with four draws and three wins for Mais Querido. Furthermore, the team lost all of them to Botafogo (three) and two positive results from Vasco, adding up to a draw.
FLAMENGO IN THE FINAL
In this way, while the Laranjeiras team will have almost 20 days without official games, the Mais Querido prepares for the Carioca final. However, the opponent is undefined and will be known this Sunday (17), when Nova Iguaçu and Vasco duel at Maraca.
With a weakened midfield, the coach evaluates internal options and the possibility of reinforcements in the market after the Club World Cup
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Flamengo will have to deal with the prolonged absence of Erick Pulgar . The Chilean suffered a fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot after a hard tackle by Harry Kane in the friendly against Chelsea. The medical forecast is that he will be out of action for up to three months.
The moment is delicate. The injury occurred on the eve of the resumption of the Brasileirão and in the midst of the dispute for a place in the quarterfinals of the Libertadores and the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil . Pulgar had been one of the team's pillars in protecting the defense and distributing the game.
Pulgar's absence is added to Gerson's imminent departure to Zenit in Russia. The Joker has already said goodbye to the group and is just waiting for bureaucratic details to board. With that, Filipe Luís is left without two absolute starters in the midfield.
In addition to the technical loss, the sector that was already lean now experiences a lack of numbers and experience . Flamengo now only has Allan, Evertton Araújo, Jorginho and De La Cruz as immediate options.
Among the names available, Allan is the one who most closely matches Pulgar's profile . With good game reading, strong marking and defensive positioning, he has played in this role on other occasions and could take over as the first midfielder.
Despite this, Allan's history of injuries and physical irregularity are a warning sign. Filipe Luís will need to use his players in moderation and have viable alternatives on the bench. The youth academy's gem, Evertton Araújo, is another name on the table. The 21-year-old defensive midfielder has good dynamics, but still struggles to deal with the pressure from the opposing defense, especially when moving the ball out.
The main cast was given four days off and will return to training on Saturday, February 4th, at CT George Helal, later this week.
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The Flamengo delegation will depart for Rio de Janeiro at 10pm this Monday (30), and is expected to arrive at 6:30am on Tuesday at Tom Jobim International Airport (RIOGaleão). Disembarkation will be made via the international lounge, with restricted access, with no press service scheduled.
The return marks the end of an important stage of the red-black pre-season, which had its high point in the Club World Cup. With the elimination against Bayern Munich, the club ends its stay in the United States and begins to turn the key to national commitments.
According to the schedule released by the club, the players will only return to activities next Saturday (4), at 9:30 am, at Ninho do Urubu. The technical committee chose to give the group four days off, taking into account the intense sequence of games and trips in recent days.
The break also serves as preparation for the next commitment of the season , still without a set date, which allows physical and mental recovery after exhausting weeks.
Despite the early elimination in the round of 16, Flamengo 's performance in the World Cup was considered positive by the coaching staff and fans. The team qualified as leaders of Group D by beating Chelsea 3-1 and showed good moments even in the 4-2 defeat to Bayern Munich . The performance against two European giants, especially the collective attitude and competitiveness, was seen as a sign that the work at the beginning of the season is on the right track.
Chilean midfielder suffered a new fracture in his foot during the Club World Cup and will be out of action for the Mais Querido, the board continues to support him and is not thinking about reinforcements
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The defeat to Bayern Munich in the Club World Cup brought an even more bitter consequence for Flamengo. Erick Pulgar, a regular starter in midfield, suffered a fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot and is a concern for the team's medical department. The Chilean will be re-evaluated in Rio de Janeiro, but initial signs indicate a recovery time of over two months.
The injury occurred in the 42nd minute of the first half, shortly after Pulgar fouled Harry Kane . He was left on the ground in intense pain and had to be substituted before half-time. In 2023, the same player had already suffered a similar problem, spending 69 days away from the pitch.
The feeling within the club is not the best. A person connected to Flamengo's football department, interviewed by the Coluna do Fla portal, admitted that the current situation could be even more delicate than the previous one. "Now it seems to be worse (the player's situation), we'll find out in Rio", said the source.
The number 5 was in good form and was a key player in the structure set up by Filipe Luís in the midfield. His absence represents a significant gap, especially given the tight schedule and other expected absences for the main squad.
Even with the worrying diagnosis, the Flamengo football leadership is cautious and avoiding any immediate movement in the market. According to an investigation by Coluna do Fla, the internal understanding is that the team has viable alternatives to fill Pulgar's absence. Pulgar's absence coincides with the imminent departure of Gerson, who is negotiating his transfer to Russian or Arab football . This means that Flamengo, in a few days, will see two important names in the sector no longer available.