EX - FLAMENGO GETS THRILLED REMEMBERING PASSAGE WITH RUBRO NEGRO: "HE MANAGED TO PLAY AT THE BIGGEST CLUB IN BRAZIL"

Manuel Neuer's fame among Flamengo fans precedes any confrontation on the field . The irony on social media that "every goalkeeper becomes Neuer against Flamengo" became reality this week, during the Rubro-Negro's 4-2 defeat to Bayern, in the round of 16 of the Club World Cup. Even at 39 years old, the German number 1 showed reflexes and elasticity when he defended a strong shot from Luiz Araújo in the first half, when Flamengo was trying to react after a poor start to the match.

FIERCE CONFRONTATION

In the mixed zone after the match, Neuer commented on the Brazilians' joke with good humor and took the opportunity to praise the attitude of Flamengo fans in the United States.

Neuer has his take on the season: “I am very proud. Certainly the Flamengo fans were very respectful."

The speech was well received by the fans, who shared the interview on social media, this time praising the goalkeeper and his sportsmanship after Bayern 's victory. The Rubro-Negro team had a poor start to the match in Miami. With two goals conceded in the first 20 minutes — one of which was an own goal by Erick Pulgar — Filipe's team had to make up for lost time.

A MUCH STRONGER CAST

Gerson, with a beautiful shot from outside the area, and Jorginho, taking advantage of a penalty in the area, managed to put Flamengo back in the match. But the defensive errors repeated themselves, and Bayern took advantage to score twice more and seal the qualification. The match against Bayern may have marked Gerson's farewell with the Flamengo shirt.

The midfielder, who has been monitored by European and Asian clubs, does not hide his desire for a new experience outside of Brazil . The red-black board, for now, has not confirmed any official proposals, but admits that the player is one of the most valued assets in the squad.

Flamengo said goodbye to the 2025 Club World Cup this Sunday (29), after being defeated 4-2 by Bayern Munich, at the Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami. The elimination generated strong repercussions on social media, with fans criticizing the stance of coach Filipe Luís , especially for the delay in making changes to the team.

Fan on social media, "X", about Flamengo's coach: “It's hard to understand some choices."

Rubro-Negro fell behind in the first few minutes and went into the break losing 3-1. Coach Filipe Luís opted to keep the same formation for the second half, which sparked the fans' outrage. On social media, the coach's name was among the most talked about.

Many fans questioned why players like Bruno Henrique and Ayrton Lucas were not called up earlier, especially against a high-level and intense opponent. Among the names most mentioned, Uruguayan midfielder Giorgian De Arrascaeta was the main target. In an uninspired afternoon, the number 14 had a below-average performance, but was kept on until the final minutes.

NAMES HUNTED IN THE CAST

"It's unbelievable that he brought De Arrascaeta back for the second half," complained one fan. "It's hard to understand some of Filipe Luís's choices," commented another. The coach's insistence on not making any changes during the break caused general surprise, even among journalists and performance analysts. Another point of note was Bruno Henrique's lack of minutes.

FLAMENGO SEE ERRORS AT DIFFERENT MOMENTS

The striker, known for his speed and ability to change the pace of the game, only came on in the final moments, when Flamengo had little room to react. "I don't understand why Filipe Luís always insists on bringing Bruno Henrique on at the end of the second half," complained a Flamengo fan on X (formerly Twitter). The fans understand that, even at 34 years old, Bruno is still decisive in big games, especially when there is space in the offensive transitions.

Felipe Melo, a commentator for SporTV, analyzed Flamengo's elimination against Bayern Munich in the Club World Cup with a critical eye on the team's strategy. For him, the Rubro-Negro repeated old mistakes by insisting on short passes, even against a team that presses intensely.

Felipe Melo opens up about the elimination of Mais Querido: “Flamengo made a mistake."

According to him, even when facing a technically superior opponent, Flamengo could have read the game more appropriately to the match scenario. Felipe recalled a notable moment from Filipe Luís's time as a player: the loss of the state title to Fluminense in 2023. At the time, Tricolor imposed a 4-1 rout with strong pressure on the red-black team's ball out.

FLAMENGO WAS NOT LETHAL AGAINST BAYERN

The criticism extended to the game against Bayern, in which Flamengo conceded four goals, two of which were due to errors in the ball out. The club's former player opens up about the game: “Flamengo made mistakes. I remember when Filipe Luís was still a player, in the Carioca final against Fluminense. They lost 4-1 because they didn't understand the game ,” said Felipe.

MENGÃO HAS PROFITABLE CRITICISMS FOR THE CAST

Despite the criticism, Felipe Melo did not fail to recognize Flamengo 's competitiveness during the semifinal. He mentioned the goal scored and the moments of dominance by Flamengo before the third German goal. In the post-match press conference, Filipe Luís responded indirectly to the criticism. The coach acknowledged the mistakes in the ball release, but explained that the alternatives were neutralized by Bayern.

Filipe highlighted Bayern's intensity in regaining possession as one of the main obstacles faced by the red-and-black team. According to him, even trying to vary the style of play, the opponent did not give them room for alternatives. Despite the mistakes that resulted in goals, the coach reinforced that the idea of maintaining possession and building from the back is part of the team's philosophy. According to him, the choice was conscious, even in the face of risks.