ARRASCAETA REVEALS THAT HE TALKED TO DE LA CRUZ TO CONVINCE HE TO COME TO FLAMENGO

Jorge Carrascal completed, this Sunday (14), his fourth match with the Flamengo shirt. In the red-black triumph over Juventude, the Colombian midfielder demonstrated evolution , greater intensity and active participation in the game. Even playing for only 12 minutes, he managed to make the most of the opportunities.

During his brief time on the field, Carrascal provided a decisive assist and created another clear scoring chance. He also stood out for his accuracy: he completed nine of his 11 attempted passes , directly contributing to the team's offensive performance. His performance drew attention for his directness and agility in executing plays.

CARRASCAL NUMBERS SHOW RESISTANCE

In addition to his passes and assists, Carrascal won three of the four individual duels , demonstrating physical fitness and competitiveness. He also excelled at dribbling, completing 100% of his attempts. These indicators reinforce the Colombian's growing confidence in Filipe Luís's squad.

According to Sofascore data, the midfielder received a rating of 7.4, his highest since joining the club. Consistent performance increases his chances of earning more minutes and a starting role in the coming rounds.

FLAMENGO PREPARES FOR THE LIBERTADORES

After the victory over Juventude, Flamengo turns its focus to the Copa Libertadores. The team faces Estudiantes, from Argentina, on Thursday (18), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, for the first game of the quarterfinals .

Flamengo's executive director of football, José Boto , spoke publicly for the first time about the controversy surrounding Pedro after the Club World Cup. The Portuguese director denied that the club had any intention of negotiating the number 9 , despite a leaked screenshot from a member of the football department suggesting otherwise.

In an interview with "UOL," Boto revealed that Flamengo rejected an offer of approximately $18 million from Qatar for the striker. He also said that the entire controversy helped Pedro dedicate himself more to training:

"There was never any intention to sell. It was a time when Pedro wasn't being used. But there was no intention to sell for any price other than what we knew Pedro was worth. Everything was done to ensure he achieved the performance he delivers to the team today. We are very pleased with this performance," the director stated.

INTERNAL CRITICISM AND ATTACKER'S REACTION

Pedro's situation was further debated after Filipe Luís publicly criticized the player's performance in training. At the time, the striker and his staff considered leaving Flamengo . However, Pedro met with the squad, acknowledged his declining performance, and turned things around, regaining his starting spot.

JOSÉ BOTO HIGHLIGHTS PEDRO'S EVOLUTION

For Boto, the episode had a positive impact on the number 9's recent trajectory. " The most important thing is that everything that was said, everything that was said, everything that was made public about Pedro, resulted in a different Pedro. A Pedro who helps Flamengo a lot and helps himself grow as a player. Everything else is normal stuff that happens at clubs," the director assessed.

On Thursday (18), Flamengo and Estudiantes face each other at Maracanã, in Rio de Janeiro, in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores . The clash marks the beginning of the fight for a place in the semifinals of the continental tournament.

Coach Eduardo Domínguez previewed the match and expressed confidence in his team's performance against their Brazilian rivals: “It won't be easy, but I feel the team will be ready. We are preparing for this stage, we know the difficulties we will face and those our rivals will face. Whoever puts their ideas into practice best will have the advantage,” said the coach this Sunday (14).

STUDENTS' RETROSPECT

Estudiantes will play the match at home after having a superior campaign in the group stage: they led Group A with 12 points. Flamengo , on the other hand, advanced in second place in Group C, with 11 points, behind LDU-EQU.

In the round of 16, the Argentine team defeated Cerro Porteño 1-0 in Paraguay and confirmed their qualification with a 0-0 draw in Argentina. In this edition of the Libertadores, Estudiantes has three wins and only one loss away from home , precisely against Botafogo in the group stage.

TECHNICIAN REINFORCES IMPORTANCE

Eduardo Domínguez acknowledged Maracanã's tradition, but highlighted his team's experience playing away from home as an asset. " We know the history of this stadium, and it's good to face that, but we're 11 against 11. We understand how we have to play away from home because we've already done it in this Copa Libertadores. It's about understanding how our opponents work and where we want to push them: to discomfort. We have to be strong, not just physically, but also mentally," the coach assessed.