Arrascaeta 'downplays' historic achievement for Flamengo: "The most important thing is..."

After recovering from an injury to his right thigh, Danilo returned to the field in Flamengo's 3-1 victory over Internacional, this Sunday (17), for the Brazilian Championship. The defender came on in the second half and, even with the Mais Querido's triumph , he recognized a mistake in the play that resulted in the opponent's goal.

"Today, first of all, it's largely my responsibility, especially due to my lack of responsiveness there. So, certainly, I should have and must have done better on that play. But it's a very high-quality defense, they're Brazilian national team-level players , and each one plays their own game," Danilo stated in an interview.

DEFENDER HIGHLIGHTS TEAM

Despite the individual error, the defender highlighted the team's collective performance, emphasizing the importance of the forwards and midfielders' pressure throughout most of the match. According to him, collective effort facilitates marking and strengthens defensive consistency.

" We also have to highlight the work of the rest of the team , because the forwards and midfielders apply relentless pressure throughout almost the entire match. This makes our job much easier, too , which is basically stopping plays when the ball isn't as clear, because our forwards, I think, and midfielders press hard and give a lot of themselves in this area. So, the credit goes to the whole team," Danilo concluded.

DURATION OF ABSENCE

The defender had not played since July 21, when he injured his right hamstring. Having recovered, Danilo came on in the 22nd minute of the second half, replacing Léo Ortiz . In the 47th minute, Bernabei crossed into the box, and Danilo, in his marking, was unable to prevent Borré from shooting , who scored Internacional's goal.

In the 3-1 victory over Internacional, Filipe Luís chose not to include Matías Viña among the squad. The Uruguayan full-back was left out of the match played on Sunday (17), at Beira-Rio, in Porto Alegre. After the match, the coach explained the choice and commented on the competition for the position.

" Competition. Alex Sandro is doing very well, he's a starter for the national team. Ayrton Lucas was our best player at the Club World Cup. Honestly, leaving one of them out is difficult. All three are doing well. When you have so many players, the coach's heart breaks. Ayrton Lucas had a great performance. It's great to see the competition for the starting spot," Filipe Luís declared in a press conference.

Ayrton Lucas was named the starting left-back and remained on the field for the entire 90 minutes. The number 6 actively participated in the attacking plays, including the start of the move that resulted in Plata's goal, the Mais Querido's third of the match. Alex Sandro, also an option for the position, was on the bench.

MATÍAS VIÑA CONTINUES TO BE IMPORTANT

Viña has been receiving opportunities since recovering from a serious injury. The Uruguayan caught the attention of fans with his physical strength and strong performances throughout the season , establishing himself as an important player for Mengão's left back.

FLAMENGO'S NEXT CHALLENGE

Flamengo will face Internacional again on Wednesday (20), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time) , for the second leg of the round of 16 of the Libertadores. With Matías Viña available, the team seeks to maintain its offensive performance and guarantee qualification for the next phase of the continental tournament.

Cruzeiro returns to the field this Monday (18), at 8 pm (Brasília time), against Mirassol , in a match valid for the 20th round of the Brazilian Championship. The match takes place at Estádio Maião and marks the beginning of the second round of the competition.

The Minas Gerais team sits second in the standings, with 37 points from 19 games, with 11 wins , four draws, and four losses. Considered one of the season's surprise packages, the Minas Gerais team is looking to maintain its strong performance to remain firmly in contention for the national title.

GABIGOL REMAINS AN OPTION

For the match against Mirassol, coach Leonardo Jardim is expected to repeat the starting lineup from the last few matches . Having failed to score in five matches, Gabigol will remain on the bench , with the possibility of coming on during the game to try to help the team.

LUXEMBOURG CRITICIZES GABIGOL

Longtime Raposa idol Vanderlei Luxemburgo spoke about Gabigol's performance during his appearance on the De Jogador para Jogador podcast. The coach was scathing in his criticism of the number 9. " Gabigol was never the player everyone thinks he is . He's a good player, but he had a moment at Flamengo under Jesus. He had two good seasons," Luxemburgo commented.

The former coach went further, citing the 2019 Copa Libertadores final. " He scored two decisive goals when River Plate had the championship won , and the coach (Marcelo Gallardo) lost. Is Memphis a star? No. Is Gabigol a star? No, he's a good player. But Kaio plays great football," he added.