Soccer

Filipe Luis leads second pre-season in the USA

Coach prepares for a friendly against São Paulo in the FC Series and focuses on the Brazilian Super Cup decision.

Flamengo's coach has the pre-season to strengthen the squad (Photo: Flamengo)
Flamengo's coach has the pre-season to strengthen the squad (Photo: Flamengo)

14 Jan 2025 | 11:30 |

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Filipe Luís leads his first pre-season as coach of Mais Querido. After taking command coach on October 1st last year, in the middle of the season, the former full-back began his work with quick achievements: in just 39 days, he led the club to victory in the Copa do Brasil. Now, in a new stage, he seeks to consolidate the philosophy implemented in 2024 at Rubro-Negro.


TECHNICAL COMMITTEE AND WORK PHILOSOPHY


Before leaving for the United States, Filipeand his technical team reviewed the main aspects of the work developed in previous months, reinforcing game concepts. In Gainesville, where the team trains until the 18th, the expectation is that the coach will give motivational and strategic talks to the squad.


INTENSE ROUTINE DURING THE PRE-SEASON

The coach's study routine didn't stop during the holidays. Filipe Luís visited clubs abroad, seeking to improve his tactical knowledge. Now, in the pre-season, he holds daily meetings with his coaching staff right after training. Walks between the field and the hotel have been used for conversations and analyzes about performance on the field.


The calendar of Mengãoincludes nine training sessions until the friendly against São Paulo, valid for the FC Series, which will be held on the 19th. After the match, the team returns to Rio de Janeiro, where he will continue preparing for important competitions, such as the Campeonato Carioca and the decision of the Brazilian Super Cup.

The duel against Botafogo, scheduled for February 2nd, is the main priority at the start of the season. Coach Filipe Luís and his team have emphasized the importance of preparation to win another title and maintain the competitiveness of CRFin the main competitions of the year. Players and coaching staff highlight the atmosphere of dedication in the group. The structure in Gainesville, combined with attention to detail, has been fundamental to the success of the work. The expectation is that the team arrives well prepared both physically and tactically for the challenges that lie ahead.


Soccer

OFFICIAL! Flamengo renews with Guillermo Varela until 2027

The full-back was in agreement with Mengão in the last few months, but reached an agreement and will remain with the red-black shirt for another two years.

Flamengo agrees to renew Guillermo Varela's contract until December 2027 - Photo: Gilvan de Souza/Flamengo
Flamengo agrees to renew Guillermo Varela's contract until December 2027 - Photo: Gilvan de Souza/Flamengo

15 Ago 2025 | 18:40 |

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Flamengo officially renewed Guillermo Varela's contract until December 2027 this Friday (15), as previously reported by Gazeta do Urubu.   . The signing took place at Ninho do Urubu, with the presence of the football technical director, José Boto.


An important player for Filipe Luís in 2025, Varela has played 35 games this season, starting 21 of them, scoring one goal and providing three assists. His versatility, also playing as a left-back and defensive midfielder, reinforces his value to the coaching staff.


Varela on the deal with Flamengo: "Everything was done very calmly"
VARELA DOESN'T HIDE HIS JOY


Negotiations had been dragging on since the beginning of the year, involving discussions about contract length, bonuses, and salary . The deal ends a period of uncertainty, especially given Wesley's likely departure for European football.

"I'm very happy to stay here, a little longer wearing this shirt, with this club. It was a smooth negotiation for both parties. They wanted me to stay, and I wanted to stay . So, everything was done very smoothly," said the Uruguayan.


NUMBERS AND TITLES FOR FLAMENGO

Since arriving at Flamengo in 2022, Varela has played 108 matches and scored three goals . During this period, he won five titles: Libertadores (2022), Copa do Brasil (2024), Supercopa (2025) and two Campeonato Cariocas (2024 and 2025).

Chance as a starter

With the ankle sprain suffered by Emerson Royal in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Libertadores, Varela should take over as starter in the next matches against Internacional . Royal is practically out of this Sunday's duel (17), for the Brasileirão, and remains doubtful for the decisive match next Wednesday (20).


Soccer

Samuel Lino praises his Flamengo teammate: “great example…”

The striker quickly became one of the club's highlights after his arrival, but he makes a point of praising the Mengão veteran

Samuel Lino praises Bruno Henrique after Flamengo's victory over Internacional - Photo: Adriano Fontes/Flamengo
Samuel Lino praises Bruno Henrique after Flamengo's victory over Internacional - Photo: Adriano Fontes/Flamengo

15 Ago 2025 | 18:30 |

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After Flamengo's 1-0 victory over Internacional in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores Round of 16, Samuel Lino made a point of praising Bruno Henrique . The striker highlighted not only the number 27's technical quality, but especially his role as a leader of the squad.



Samuel Lino on Bruno Henrique at Flamengo: "he's a great example of a player"


"Bruno is a great player who has achieved a lot for Flamengo in recent years. He's a player of great quality, but I'd rather emphasize the person he is, our captain . He's always in the locker room talking to us," said Lino, who added:


"He's a role model, and it's great to have that kind of person around, because he's always looking out for the best for the group, helping everyone. Bruno is a great example of a player, of his career, of the victories he achieved at Flamengo . I hope to achieve the same as him here at Flamengo ," said the new number 16 of the Mais Querido.

BRUNO HENRIQUE: IDOL AND RECORD HOLDER

Bruno Henrique shares with Arrascaeta the title of greatest champion in the club's history , with 15 titles won: three Brazilian Championships, two Libertadores, one South American Recopa, three Super Cups, three Brazilian Cups and five Cariocas.

DECISIVE GOAL AGAINST INTER

In the match against Internacional, the striker scored the winning goal in the 27th minute of the first half , heading in a corner kick from Luiz Araújo. The result gives Flamengo the advantage for the return leg at Beira-Rio.

After the game, Bruno Henrique assessed the team's performance: "We took possession in the first half, and in the second, because we wanted to score quickly, we ended up opening up a bit . It's something we need to improve, especially in the first 15 minutes of the second half."

AGENDA

Flamengo will decide its place in the quarterfinals of the Libertadores next Wednesday (20), at Beira-Rio, in Porto Alegre. Before that, it will face Internacional again this Sunday (17), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), for the Brasileirão . Mengão is the leader of the competition with 40 points, three more than the second-placed Cruzeiro.


Soccer

Journalist claims Jorge Jesus wouldn't do a better job at Flamengo today

The Portuguese coach commanded Mengão in the historic year of 2019, but the analyst guarantees that the coach would not be able to make the current team play more

Journalist claims that Flamengo's current squad is not capable of playing better than in 2019 even if Jorge Jesus were the coach - Photo: Reproduction
Journalist claims that Flamengo's current squad is not capable of playing better than in 2019 even if Jorge Jesus were the coach - Photo: Reproduction

15 Ago 2025 | 17:30 |

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Flamengo is enjoying a great run of form under Filipe Luís, leading some fans to dream of a repeat of the historic 2019 season , when, under Jorge Jesus, the club won the Brasileirão and Libertadores. However, ESPN journalist Paulo Cobos considers the comparison hasty.


Paulo Cobos on the current Flamengo: "The Portuguese wouldn't make the current squad play better"


"The Flamengo of 2025 won't be as good as Jorge Jesus's 2019, and that won't be Filipe Luís's fault . The current team has many players who have rarely played professionally in Brazil. Expensive reinforcements, like Emerson Royal, have just arrived and are already being booed," he stated.


Cobos also highlighted the difference in attack: "Any quartet that Filipe Luís fields is far from the splendor of Arrascaeta, Everton Ribeiro, Bruno Henrique, and Gabigol. It's clear that Jorge Jesus, in 2019, was much more experienced than Filipe is today , but even at his peak, the Portuguese wouldn't have made the current squad play any better than that team."

COMPARISON IN NUMBERS
  • Flamengo 2019 (Jorge Jesus): 74 games | 49 wins | 16 draws | 9 losses | 73.4% success rate | Carioca, Brazilian and Libertadores Champion.
  • Flamengo 2025 (Filipe Luís): 49 games | 32 wins | 10 draws | 7 losses | 72.1% success rate | Leader of the Brasileirão and victory in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Libertadores.
NEXT CHALLENGE


Flamengo returns to the field this Sunday (17), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), against Internacional, at Beira-Rio, for the 20th round of the Brazilian Championship. Mengão is the leader of the Brasileirão with 40 points , three more than the vice-leader, Cruzeiro, but with one game less compared to the Minas Gerais club.


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