FLAMENGO CAST HOLDS 3RD TRAINING OF THE WEEK WITH AIM FOR CONFRONTATION AGAINST GRÊMIO

Mengão will have to deal with the absence of Nicolás De La Cruz for another important game. The Uruguayan player did not participate in the classic against Vasco, last Sunday (15), and remains a doubt for this Thursday's match (19) against Peñarol, valid for the quarter-finals of the Copa Sudamericana. The midfielder's presence is not yet guaranteed, as coach Tite explained during a press conference.

SLOW RECOVERY AND UNCERTAINTY IN RETURN

During the press conference, Tite revealed that, after a recent training session, he asked Nicolás De La Cruz about the possibility of playing for at least 20 minutes in the match against Vasco, but the player, smiling, indicated that was not in condition. “The physical department was categorical in stating that he was not fit, even if he felt good", commented the coach. Tite also reinforced that he hopes to be able to count on the athlete on Thursday, but there is still no guarantee that this will be possible.

INJURY AND IMPORTANT ABSENCES

Nicolás De La Cruz has been sidelined since suffering a muscle injury to his right thigh in the game against Bahia, valid for the quarter-finals of the Copa do Brasil. Since then, the midfielder was absent from the team in the matches against Corinthians, in the second game of the same competition, and in the Rio derby. and expectations for his return increase as the calendar narrows.

In addition to De La Cruz, CRF has already confirmed the absence of four other players for the clash against Peñarol, which they face. problems in their right thigh, and Pedro, Matías Viña and Everton Cebolinha, who suffered more serious injuries, will only return to the pitch in 2025.

With these absences, coach Tite will have to adjust the team to maintain performance and continue in search of victories in the competitions that the club still competes in.

Mais Querido drew 1-1 with Vasco, in a classic played this Sunday (15), in the 26th round of the Brazilian Championship, at Maracanã. CRF had clear scoring opportunities, hitting the post on two occasions, but ended up conceding the draw in the final minutes. After the match, Alex Sandro, who debuted for Rubro-Negro, commented on the goal conceded and highlighted the need for better organization in decisive moments.

FAILURE IN THE FINAL MINUTES

Alex Sandro, one of Mengão's new reinforcements, lamented the team's relaxation at the end of the game, which culminated in Vasco's equalizer in the 42nd minute of the second half . “It was a pleasure to play in a packed Maracanã and play in a classic. However, we relax in the end, that is the truth. We should have kept possession more and been better organized. Football only ends when the referee blows the whistle. Let's learn from this and avoid the same mistakes in the next games", commented the full-back in the mixed area of ​​the stadium.

DOMINIUM AND LOST CHANCESEven with some important absences, Tite's team managed to dominate the actions throughout the match. Mengão finished 17 times and hit the post on two occasions. The red-black goal came in the 25th minute. second half, in a play on the right side that ended with Gerson finding the net. However, despite control in the attack, Mais Querido lost possession of the ball, which generated the counterattack that resulted in Philippe Coutinho's goal, after pass from Puma Rodríguez.

ALEX SANDRO'S PERFORMANCE

With the suspension of Ayrton Lucas, who served a suspension due to the accumulation of yellow cards, Tite selected Alex Sandro as a starter. The left-back had a solid performance in his first match for the CRF, adding positive numbers: 60 successful passes in 61 attempts, three opportunities created and four defensive actions, showing himself. an important piece for the remainder of the season.

Flamengo remains in the G4 of the Brasileirão with 45 points, but the team seeks to avoid further mistakes and correct the flaws presented in the classic, aiming for better results in the next rounds.< /p>

Pedro's absence in the attack of Flamengo due to injury forced coach Tite to reevaluate the team's offensive options. With Gabriel, Bruno Henrique and Carlinhos available, the coach needed to adjust his strategy, as these players have very different characteristics from Pedro's. While Pedro is a classic center forward, with presence in the area and precise finishing, the other attackers offer more dynamic alternatives, but with less physical presence in the area.

Gabriel Barbosa, for example, is a movement striker, who stands out for his ability to float between the lines, opening spaces and creating plays, but does not have the same presence in the area that Pedro offers. Bruno Henrique, in turn, is known for his speed and ability to explore the back of the defense, but he is also not the type of player who remains fixed between the opposing defenders. Carlinhos, still in the adaptation phase in the main squad, has a profile more focused on dribbling and speed on the wings, also clashing with Pedro's style of play.

FLAMENGO WANTS A MORE OFFENSIVE GAME < /b>

In view of these differences, a solution studied by Tite and his coaching staff has been to bring the midfield players closer to the attack. The idea is to use these athletes to make up for the absence of a fixed center forward, encouraging them to participate more actively in finishing and creating offensive plays. Thus, Flamengo tries to reorganize the team in a way that maintains its characteristic offensiveness, but without depending on a single reference man in the area.

This strategy can be seen as an attempt to redistribute responsibility for goals, taking the focus away from a single player. By encouraging midfielders to risk more shots at goal, the team increases their chances of shooting from outside the box, something that can be useful against well-positioned defenses. Players like Gerson, who have good access to the area and an efficient mid-range shot, can gain protagonism in this new configuration.

Another fundamental point for the success of this reorganization is the role of midfielders and midfielders in building the plays. With the absence of Pedro, who often held defenders and created spaces for his teammates, Flamengo will need more creativity in the midfield to break down the opponent's defensive lines. Everton Ribeiro, known for his vision of the game, and Arrascaeta, who also has a talent for finding decisive passes, will play an even more vital role in creating opportunities for the attack.