FLAMENGO HAS A NEW DIRECTION IN THE ELECTIONS: LANDIM CONVERSATIONS WITH THE WOMEN'S BENCH

Defender Léo Pereira, from Flamengo, became the target of numerous criticisms on social media after his performance in the classic against Vasco. The player was directly responsible for the opponent's equalizing goal, which generated a flood of negative comments from fans, especially on digital platforms.

The move that resulted in Vasco's goal happened at a crucial moment in the match , which intensified the red-black revolt. Many Flamengo fans took to the internet to express their frustration with the defender's failure, pointing to the defensive failure as determining the final result. In the game, which is already naturally surrounded by tension as it is a classic between two of Rio's biggest football rivals, the responsibility of maintaining a solid defense is even greater.

However, Léo Pereira made a mistake that ended up being fatal for the Flamengo. The defender was unable to clear the ball in an aerial play, allowing Vasco to reach a draw. The failure occurred 30 minutes into the second half, at a time when Flamengo seemed to control the match, despite pressure from the opponent. However, the defender's positioning error allowed Vasco's attacker to take advantage of the opportunity, scoring a goal that changed the course of the game.

As soon as the game ended, social networks became a space for rant to Flamengo fans. Various profiles, from sports influencers to ordinary fans, spared no criticism of Léo Pereira's performance. Comments such as "unacceptable" and "another decisive failure" dominated mentions of the player.

On Bluesky, the hashtag with the player's name became one of the most talked about topics, and in fan groups on WhatsApp and Facebook, the conversation revolved around the need for reinforcements in Flamengo's defense. Many stated that the team, with the ambitions it has in competitions such as the Brazilian Championship and Libertadores, cannot afford to make such simple defensive mistakes.

Mengão will have to deal with the absence of Nicolás De La Cruz for another important game. The Uruguayan player did not participate in the classic against Vasco, last Sunday (15), and remains a doubt for this Thursday's match (19) against Peñarol, valid for the quarter-finals of the Copa Sudamericana. The midfielder's presence is not yet guaranteed, as coach Tite explained during a press conference.

During the press conference, Tite revealed that, after a recent training session, he asked Nicolás De La Cruz about the possibility of playing for at least 20 minutes in the match against Vasco, but the player, smiling, indicated that was not in condition. “The physical department was categorical in stating that he was not fit, even if he felt good", commented the coach. Tite also reinforced that he hopes to be able to count on the athlete on Thursday, but there is still no guarantee that this will be possible.

Nicolás De La Cruz has been sidelined since suffering a muscle injury to his right thigh in the game against Bahia, valid for the quarter-finals of the Copa do Brasil. Since then, the midfielder was absent from the team in the matches against Corinthians, in the second game of the same competition, and in the Rio derby. and expectations for his return increase as the calendar narrows.

In addition to De La Cruz, CRF has already confirmed the absence of four other players for the clash against Peñarol, which they face. problems in their right thigh, and Pedro, Matías Viña and Everton Cebolinha, who suffered more serious injuries, will only return to the pitch in 2025.

With these absences, coach Tite will have to adjust the team to maintain performance and continue in search of victories in the competitions that the club still competes in.

Flamengo entered an election year for the club's presidency. Thus, the movements began in the first semester. President of Mais Querido between 2013 and 2018, Eduardo Bandeira de Mello began the season minimizing the possibility of running for the position again. However, the scenario seems to have changed.

According to information from journalist Lauro Jardim, from "O Globo", Bandeira de Mello is once again considering more chances of running for president of Flamengo in this year's elections. Allies pressure the former president to define campaign strategies for the opposition, which is against the current ticket, led by Rodolfo Landim and Rodrigo Dunshee.

Although he is considering running for president of Mais Querido with more emphasis , Bandeira de Mello remains cautious with his political companions. This is because the former leader and current federal deputy from Rio de Janeiro says he will only define the situation in August. In other words, until next month Bandeira articulates the sequence of plans with associates.

While Bandeira de Mello decides whether or not he will run for president of Flamengo , other pre-candidates have already started their campaigns. So far Maurício Gomes de Mattos and Rodrigo Dunshee have announced their candidacies. The first gave up the vice-presidency of embassies and consulates. The second has the support of Rodolfo Landim for the election.

In addition to Maurício and Dunshee, Luiz Eduardo Baptista, "Bap", is also preparing for the resignation of the presidency of the board of directors to formalize the pre-candidacy for the presidency of Mais Querido. Thus, Bandeira de Mello could have up to three direct competitors in the December elections.