Flamengo does not give interviews when leaving after the defeat to Penarol - See

Coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo, multi-champion in Brazilian football, caused controversy when he stated that Cruzeiro in 2003 was superior to Flamengo in 2019. In a recent interview to Charla Podcast, the coach highlighted that, although the celestial team was not made up of players who were so highly valued individually, the team was much more tactically balanced and played collective football. very high level.

For Luxemburgo, the main quality of the Cruzeiro team that year was the tactical awareness and the rapport between the players, which resulted in a spectacle on the field. "Those guys did a magical thing. Winning a triple crown is complicated. That team was fantastic. The team played amazing football," he said.

THE CRUZEIRO TEAM OF 2003: AN INNOVATIVE TACTICAL SCHEME

Luxemburgo also detailed how he managed to put together a team with an innovative tactical scheme that led the team celestial to achieve historic feats. "We didn't have all the team you think. The team that stood out was Gomes, Maurinho who I took from Santos, Dracena, Luisão and Cris, and Leandrinho on the left. I managed to form a diamond in the midfield, with Maldonado, Wendel and Recife, to give freedom", he explained.

In addition, the coach made a point of highlighting the importance of key players like Alex, Deivid and Aristizábal, who were in great form and scored many goals that season. This extraordinary performance led Cruzeiro to break records not yet achieved in Brazilian football, being the only team to surpass the 100-point mark in the Brazilian Championship.

FLAMENGO 2019: ONE GREATLY SUCCESSFUL TEAM, BUT LESS TACTICALLY BALANCED

However, Luxembourg also made a point of recognizing Flamengo's success of 2019, which won the Campeonato Carioca, Campeonato Brasileiro and Copa Libertadores titles under the command of Jorge Jesus. The red and black team enchanted with offensive and aggressive football, but, according to the coach, their tactical balance was not as perfect as that of Cruzeiro in 2003.

Mengão still had a historic performance in the Club World Cup, but ended up losing to Liverpool in extra time, in a fiercely contested final. Even so, the year 2019 was marked by great achievements and the brilliance of players like Gabigol, Bruno Henrique and Arrascaeta, who helped write one of the most successful pages in the club's history.

CONCLUSION: DIFFICULTY IN COMPARING TEAMS FROM DIFFERENT SEASONS

Although it is difficult to compare teams From such different times, Vanderlei Luxemburgo's statements raise an interesting point about the tactical balance and collective quality of a team. The 2003 Cruzeiro, under his direction, was an example of organization and efficiency, while the 2019 Flamengo demonstrated offensive strength and high-level individual plays. Both teams marked their place in the history of Brazilian football, but, for Luxembourg, the Minas Gerais team was the most complete.

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The future of Gabriel Barbosa, known as Gabigol, is once again a hot topic in the Brazilian football transfer market. The Flamengo striker, with a contract until December 2024, is the target of interest from two big teams: Santos and Cruzeiro. The dispute for the player promises to heat up behind the scenes of national football, with attractive financial proposals and the athlete's desire to return to one of his home clubs.

Gabigol, who has established himself as one of the greatest scorers in Brazilian football, has already aroused the interest of several clubs throughout his career, and now, with the end of his contract with Flamengo, he is coveted by Santos and Cruzeiro. At 28 years old, the striker is a fundamental part of the red and black squad, but the possibility of a transfer is already starting to take shape.

SANOS' INTEREST IN REPATRIATING GABIGOL

Santos, the club where Gabigol began his professional career,is one of the main interested parties in having the striker back. The president of the São Paulo club, Marcelo Teixeira, officially confirmed that there was contact with the player's representatives and that a formal proposal was made. Santos is betting on the strong emotional connection between Gabigol and the fans, in addition to his successful record at the club, to convince the player to return to Vila Belmiro.

Gabigol is one of the greatest idols in Santos' recent history, having been instrumental in winning titles and the team's rise to the top of Brazilian football. This deep connection with the club and the city of Santos is one of the assets that Peixe's board of directors seeks to use to attract the attacker back. However, Santos faces financial difficulties and needs to reconcile its sporting project with budgetary reality, which makes negotiations more complex.

CRUZEIRO MAKES GENEROUS OFFER, BUT MAINTAINS LIMITS ON NEGOTIATION

< p style="border: 1px solid rgb(197, 0, 24);">In Belo Horizonte, Cruzeiro is also eyeing the signing of Gabigol, aiming to strengthen its squad for next season. The Minas Gerais club, which has been seeking to regain its greatness in Brazilian football, presented a tempting proposal, with a salary of R$1.6 million per month and gloves worth R$500,000 per month. The proposal was considered quite attractive, especially at a time when Cruzeiro was recovering on the national scene.

However, a Cruzeiro's board, under the leadership of Ronaldo Nazário, was clear in its stance: it will not enter into an endless financial dispute. The celestial club made it clear that it is not willing to participate in an auction for Gabigol and will maintain its firm proposal, without exceeding the budget established for reinforcement. Cruzeiro's strategy is to guarantee the signing of important players within sustainable financial limits, without compromising the team's future.