Soccer
Flamengo should have reinforcements for the clash with Estudiantes in the Libertadores
16 Set 2025 | 15:04
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Soccer
06 Abr 2025 | 22:20 |
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After the 2-1 victory against Vitória , away from home, in the second round of the Brazilian Championship, Filipe Luís spoke to the press and did not hold back on praising the Flamengo squad. The coach, still new to the role, called the result “heroic”, highlighting the wear and tear caused by the recent trip to Venezuela, where the team faced Deportivo Táchira in the Libertadores.
The tight logistics took their toll: the red-and-black group spent almost 24 hours traveling to and from Venezuela. Without much time to rest, the team arrived in Bahia on Friday afternoon, had just one training session on Saturday and took to the field on Sunday . Even so, they won three important points away from home.
Filipe also made a point of recognizing the quality of the Bahian team , which played in an organized defensive manner. According to the coach, the opponent made it very difficult for the Mais Querido to reach the final third of the field, reinforcing the importance of the victory. Despite the good overall performance , the commander made a point of highlighting the need to increase efficiency in finishing. Filipe pointed out that the team is creating good chances, but still fails to finish with more precision in the final third of the field.
“We are creating and having opportunities, but we need to be more decisive in the opponent’s area,” Filipe assessed. The demand came in the tone of someone who understands the offensive potential of CRF, but knows that, in games with less margin for error, efficiency can define the result. In the press conference, Filipe pointed out physical exhaustion as one of the main factors that compromised performance at certain moments of the match. He mentioned that it was possible to notice a delay in the players’ reaction time, which made basic actions such as pressuring the opponent’s ball out difficult.
In addition to the fatigue caused by the trip, the coach valued the commitment of the players who had recently returned from injury. Some of them entered the field still getting back into the swing of things, which, according to Filipe , reinforces the team's ability to overcome challenges. The coach also highlighted the conditions of the pitch as another obstacle the group overcame . The heavy pitch compromised mobility and required even more physical and mental strength from the players during the 90 minutes.
Mengão faces the Argentine team with important absences that could impact the team's lineup and strategy at Maracanã this Thursday (18)
16 Set 2025 | 15:49 |
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Flamengo will have significant absences in this Thursday's (17) clash, at 9:30 pm, against Estudiantes, at Maracanã, for the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores . Among the big names that will be left out are midfielder Jorginho, full-back Alex Sandro and midfielder Pulgar.
Jorginho will miss the match against Argentina due to muscle swelling in his left thigh . Alex Sandro continues to recover from a left calf injury, while Pulgar is in the final stages of treatment after surgery on his right foot and will still require at least two weeks of physical therapy before returning to the squad.
With these absences, the coach will have to assemble a team with alternatives for midfield and left back. The likely starting lineup includes: Rossi; Royal (Varela), Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira, Ayrton Lucas (Viña); Saúl, De La Cruz (Allan), Arrascaeta; Plata, Samuel Lino, and Pedro.
The absences could influence Flamengo 's game strategy, as they seek to advance to the Copa Libertadores semifinals. The return leg will be next week in La Plata, Argentina, against Estudiantes.
Striker Bruno Henrique and full-back Varela are the main names expected to return to the team after being absent last Sunday (14), against Juventude, for the Brazilian Championship. Both trained normally with the team this Tuesday (16).
Mengão has been frequently loaning players to national teams due to its star-studded squad, and the club must pay a sum for the athletes.
16 Set 2025 | 15:39 |
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Created to reward clubs that contributed players to the World Cup, FIFA's Club Benefits Program has been expanded. From now on, teams that have players called up for the qualifiers , such as Flamengo, will also receive financial compensation .
The announcement was made by the organization itself, which confirmed the distribution of more than R$1.8 billion to clubs that release players to national teams . This amount represents an increase of almost 70% compared to the last edition of the program, implemented during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Until now, the benefit was restricted to clubs that had players called up for the World Cup. With this change, FIFA aims to be more inclusive and reach a wider range of teams: "The new edition of the FIFA Club Benefits Program for the 2026 World Cup will go a step further and recognize, in economic terms, the immense contribution made by clubs and players from around the world to the celebration of the preliminary and final stages of the tournament," said Gianni Infantino, president of the organization.
For the 2022 World Cup, the amount distributed was US$209 million (approximately R$1.1 billion at the current exchange rate). For the 2026 edition, the amount will rise to US$355 million , which represents approximately R$700 million more. In the last edition, 440 clubs from 51 different federations were included.
The increased financial contribution was directly supported by Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, owner of PSG and president of the European Club Association (ECA) . He led negotiations that resulted in the program's expansion. Despite the initial focus on benefiting European clubs, the measure will have a global reach. After the announcement, Al-Khelaïfi celebrated the progress:
"More clubs around the world will receive a reward for releasing their players. Clubs play a fundamental role in the success of international football , and this initiative recognizes all aspects of that role, from developing younger players to releasing them to play in more important matches," he declared.
Analyst says that stadium renovations and elitism with excessive ticket price increases have eliminated the hostile atmosphere at Mengão.
16 Set 2025 | 15:14 |
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ESPN journalist André Galindo sparked debate by analyzing the current atmosphere at Maracanã , especially during Flamengo games . According to the commentator, the stadium has lost some of the intimidating atmosphere that characterized previous eras.
André Galindo, from ESPN: "At the old Maracanã, Flamengo was scary, but not anymore"
According to Galindo, the new Maracanã no longer commands the same respect from opponents as the old one. He recalled that, in the past, the pressure from the red-and-black fans made a difference on the field, something that seems to have weakened today.
" Flamengo at the New Maracanã is 'my house, your house.' There's no hostile atmosphere. At the old Maracanã, Flamengo was scary, but not anymore. The only stadium in Rio that can have a hostile atmosphere is São Januário . Other than that, no one can," he declared.
The journalist also criticized the lack of synchronicity among organized fan groups. In his view, the lack of unity harms the atmosphere in the stands , previously considered one of the strongest in South America.
"Flamengo doesn't scare anyone in the stadium these days. The fans don't sing, the organized fans don't sing together; it's disorganized . At the old Maracanã, yes, the old Flamengo fans were scary, but nowadays they don't scare anyone," he added.
In the analysis, however, Galindo did not take into account important points: Flamengo remains alongside Mirassol as the only undefeated team at home in the 2025 Brasileirão. After the duel against São Paulo in the Brasileirão, the tricolor's coach, Hernán Crespo, even gave 'thanks to God' that he would not face Mais Querido again at Maracanã .
Despite the criticism, Maracanã will be the stage for another decision. Next Thursday (18), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), Flamengo hosts Estudiantes (ARG) for the first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals.
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