TITE'S FLAMENGO LEADS OFFENSIVE QUESTIONS IN BRASILEIRÃO

Botafogo is the third team qualified for the Libertadores semi-finals. This Wednesday (25), the Rio team drew 1-1 with São Paulo, at Morumbi. In the first leg, the teams were 0-0, at the Nilton Santos stadium. Therefore, the duel ended in a penalty shootout, with John Textor's club getting the better of the shots.

Now, Botafogo awaits the winner of the duel between Flamengo and Peñarol (URU), who face each other in this Thursday (26), in Montevideo. The semi-finals are scheduled to take place in the weeks of October 23rd on the way out, and 10/30 on the way back. The big decision, in Buenos Aires, will be on November 30th.

THE SEMIFINALS

So, the semifinals will be as follows. Atlético-MG faces River Plate (ARG), going to Minas Gerais and returning to Buenos Aires. Botafogo is waiting for Flamengo or Peñarol. What is defined is that the first duel will take place at Engenhão, with the return at Maracanã or Campeón del Siglo.

To face Botafogo, Flamengo needs a turnaround. As they lost 1-0 at Maracanã, the red and black team needs to reverse in Uruguay, against Peñarol. The ball starts at 7pm (Brasília time).

The Flamengo remains firm in its position of shielding coach Tite, regardless of the result of the next clash against Peñarol in the Libertadores. The club's board of directors has already decided that, even in the case of elimination, there will be no changes in the technical command. The decision is clear: Tite will remain in office, with the expectation of fulfilling his contract until the end, as established since his hiring.

Protection for Tite is nothing new within Flamengo, which has a policy of invest in the continuity of the work of its technicians, avoiding sudden changes based only on immediate results. This stance was reinforced in recent days, when the team faced a series of protests and criticism from fans after some performances below expectations. Even with the external pressure, the board made it clear that it is not considering dismissing the coach, as it believes in the long-term project.

FLAMENGO HAS CRISIS CONTROL

< The match against Peñarol, which will take place in Uruguay, will be decisive for Flamengo's stay in the continental competition. However, internally, the board treats the game as a stage in a larger process, and not as a "watershed" for Tite's future at the club. Confidence in the coach's work is based not only on his experience and past achievements, but also on the conviction that constant changes in technical command are not the solution to the challenges faced by the club.

The decision to bank Tite's continuity, even in the face of possible elimination, is not common in Brazilian football, where the culture of rapid coach changes is predominant. In Flamengo, however, management understands that a solid, long-term project depends on stability in command. This type of stance has already been adopted in previous moments, with other coaches, when the board chose to give time to the work so that results would emerge in the medium and long term.

Although some clubs are in a decision week in South American competitions, others will compete in the Brasileirão in delayed games. Thus, two of these matches take place this Wednesday (25th).

International visits Red Bull Bragantino at the Nabi Abi Chedid Stadium, in Bragança Paulista for the 16th round of the Brasileirão. The ball rolls at 7pm. On the other side, Grêmio and Criciúma also enter the field, in Porto Alegre, for the 5th round of the competition.

FLAMENGO DELAYED GAME

It is worth remembering that the Flamengo there is also a delayed game. The delayed clash is against Internacional, valid for the 17th round of the Brasileirão. The date and time of the match between the teams is not yet known.

However, the tendency is for the match to be held in October, during FIFA Dates. However, in the event of Flamengo's elimination in the Libertadores, the delayed game could take place on the dates reserved for the tournament's semi-final.

FOCUS ON THE NEXT COMPETITION

Flamengo faces Athletico-PR in the next Sunday (29), at Maracanã, for the 28th round of the Brasileirão. However, before facing the Curitiba team, Mais Querido visits Peñarol, in the Libertadores quarter-finals. The game will be this Thursday (26th), at 7pm.