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Flamengo continues its preparation to face Juventude , next Sunday (14), for the 23rd round of the Brasileirão. For the match, coach Filipe Luís will not have Léo Ortiz, suspended, and should bet on Danilo as a starter in the red-black defense .

Danilo's last start was the 1-0 victory over Fluminense on July 20th, in the 15th round. At the time, the defender suffered a thigh muscle injury and was sidelined for about a month. Now fully recovered, he is expected to return to the starting lineup.

WHY IS LEO ORTIZ OUT?

In the 1-1 draw with Grêmio on August 31, Léo Ortiz received his third yellow card of the season in a highly contested play by Grêmio. As a result, he will serve an automatic suspension and will not travel to Caxias do Sul.

HOW WAS DANILO'S INJURY?

A starter in the derby against Fluminense, Danilo felt pain in his right thigh and left the field in the 37th minute of the second half. Since then, he has undergone treatment with the Medical Department and has returned to the field , once again available for Filipe Luís.

DANILO'S NUMBERS FOR FLAMENGO

Signed in January after terminating his contract with Juventus (ITA) , Danilo has played 18 games, scored three goals, and provided one assist for Flamengo . Although he is not a regular starter, he has been alternating between Léo Ortiz and Léo Pereira in defense, despite suffering from physical problems.

FLAMENGO'S NEXT GAME

Rubro-Negro returns to the field next Sunday (14), at 4 pm (Brasília time), against Juventude, at Alfredo Jaconi Stadium, for the 23rd round of the Brasileirão. Flamengo seeks to end a long run without victories at Jaconero's home . The last time they won there was on October 1, 1997, when the score ended 1-0 for Mais Querido, due to an own goal by Rodrigo Costa.

Flamengo is getting closer to clearing out its medical department . While Alex Sandro is making progress in recovering from a calf injury, midfielder Erick Pulgar is also showing signs of improvement after a fracture in the fifth metatarsal in his right foot . In an interview with Flamengo TV, the Chilean spoke about the treatment process, expressed his eagerness to return to the field, and left a message to the nation.

Flamengo's Pulgar on recovery: "I'm closer to returning to the field"

"The recovery has been very good. First, I'd like to thank Filipe (Luís) and Boto for giving me the confidence to go to Chile , and Dr. Sassaki and the entire medical department for overseeing the surgery and the first part of the work. Now I feel great, pain-free, I'm already doing more work, carrying more weight, and I'm closer to returning to the field," said the number 5.

Pulgar then highlighted the dedication behind the scenes: "We organized the week with the Medical Department to avoid wasting time, because I'm already eager to get back to training with the group. We'll continue the work and also thank the MD , who stayed with me working even when he was off," he concluded.

HOW DID THE FLEGAL INJURY HAPPEN?

The midfielder suffered the injury on June 29th during a friendly against Bayern Munich (GER). In the first half, Pulgar fouled Harry Kane , receiving a yellow card, and soon after, felt pain in his right foot. Tests confirmed a fracture in the fifth metatarsal, and the athlete underwent surgery in Chile.

WHEN WILL FLAMENGO RETURN TO THE FIELD?

With no exact date set for Pulgar's return, Flamengo is focusing on the next match on the calendar . Filipe Luís' team faces Juventude, this Sunday (14), at 4 pm (Brasília time), at Alfredo Jaconi Stadium, in a match valid for the 23rd round of the Brazilian Championship.

With extensive experience in the position and a notable achievement in winning the 1994 World Cup , Jorginho remains one of the most respected voices when it comes to right-backs. In his analysis, the former player highlighted the changing style of play and the lack of full-backs who can get deep to deliver crosses.

According to him, " a full-back needs to know how to cross. Nowadays, in modern football, it's difficult to see that. Today, it's a very supportive game with few full-backs getting to the bottom. The wingers play with 'switched' legs and usually cut inside, the full-back has to pass," he concluded.

FORMER PLAYER CRITICIZES LACK OF OFFENSIVENESS

During his analysis, Jorginho criticized the performance of Danilo , the current Brazilian full-back. He noted that in recent matches, the player has been unable to complete crosses , something he considers worrying for his role.

" I watched some recent Brazilian national team games and it was desperate to see the full-back not pass the ball. He ended up not delivering a cross. Danilo is a great full-back, but there was one game where, if I'm not mistaken it was against Argentina (editor's note: Danilo's last game for the national team was against Uruguay), he didn't get to the bottom once," he said before concluding.

Jorginho criticizes Flamengo's Danilo: "A full-back can't not cross a ball"

" A full-back can't go without crossing the ball throughout the game . But of course, today he's become more of a third defender and looks inside a lot, but it's extremely necessary for the full-back to know how to cross," said the former Flamengo coach.

FLAMENGO RETURNS TO THE FIELD AGAINST JUVENTUDE

With Danilo available, Flamengo is preparing for its next Brazilian Championship match. The team faces Juventude on the 14th at 4 p.m. (Brasília time) at Alfredo Jaconi Stadium, with coverage on Globo and Premiere.