FLAMENGO

In the last round of the Libertadores group stage, Flamengo, now under the command of coach Tite, saw its long undefeated streak as home team come to an end. The 1-0 defeat marked the end of a run of 28 matches without losing at home in the competition. The negative result was a shock for the fans, mainly because it occurred at a crucial moment in the season and because of the expectations surrounding the team led by a renowned coach like Tite.

The last time Flamengo had been defeated at Maracanã by the Libertadores was in April 2019, when Peñarol beat the red-black team by the same score of 1-0. The current setback, therefore, brought back memories of that game, creating a feeling of déjà vu among fans . It is worth remembering that, at that time, Flamengo was in a moment of transition and seeking to consolidate itself as one of the powers of South American football.

With the arrival of Tite at the helm of Flamengo, the expectation was that the team would gain tactical consistency and competitiveness in important tournaments, such as the Libertadores itself. Tite, who has a respected CV, mainly for his work in the Brazilian national team, was hired with the mission of making Flamengo become dominant again both on the national and international scene.

The defeat at home, however , served as a cold water for part of the fans who expected a quiet victory. Their unbeaten record at home was seen as one of Flamengo's trump cards in continental competition, a guarantee of strength within their domains. By losing this status, the team will now need to deal with the pressure and doubts that arise from this result.

After the 1-0 defeat to Peñarol, in the first game of the Libertadores quarter-finals, coach Tite held a press conference at Maracanã. The team did not perform well and was booed by the fans. Despite the setback, the coach remained confident for the second leg, which will be held in Uruguay.

Regarding the boos coming from the stands, Tite admitted that the fans' dissatisfaction is understandable. "Of course this hurts, especially on the human side. But experience shows that, when you deliver a good production, the fan's reaction is proportional to the love they feel for the club", said the coach, highlighting the emotional bond between the fans and the Most Dear.

The coach was also asked about the difficulty of Mengão in achieving victories away from home in the Libertadores, since 2022. The last victory away from home came on August 31, 2022, against Vélez Sarsfield, with an impressive 4-0. "We have a great opportunity to break this sequence This is part of the history of football, and I believe we are fully capable of getting there and changing this scenario", replied Tite, showing optimism.

Tite guaranteed that the team will be more effective in Uruguay, promising a better performance. "Within two or three minutes, we score the goal, and from that point on, we work on the result. In some moments we were hasty, and the opposing goalkeeper also had merit. But I'm confident that we will create half of the opportunities and convert them into goals there. You can charge me later", said the coach, projecting a positive scenario for the second leg.

In recent weeks, Flamengohas been facing a worrying sequence of injuries among its players. In a period of approximately one month, four of the club's athletes needed to undergo surgery, which raises an alarm in the team both in relation to physical preparation and planning for the season.

The first to face surgery it was Everton Cebolinha, on August 14th. The attacker suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in his left ankle. This injury is known to require a long recovery period, with forecasts ranging from six to eight months before returning to the field. This means that Cebolinha will be out of action for a large part of the season, which directly impacts Flamengo's planning.

No The following day, on August 15, Uruguayan left-back Guillermo Varela also underwent surgery after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Cruciate ligament injuries are one of the most serious and feared in football, as the recovery time is usually long, generally between six to nine months. Varela's case, similar to that of Cebolinha, represents a weightlessness for the squad.

Just less than a month later, on September 13th, it was striker Pedro's turn to go through the same situation as Varela. The player suffered an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee, another serious injury that requires months of recovery and intensive physiotherapy care. Pedro is one of the main players of Flamengo, and his absence will certainly bring challenges for the team in the remainder of the season.

Finally, on September 16th, Luiz Araújo closed the list of Flamengo athletes who needed surgery in a short period of time. The player suffered a fractured cartilage in his right knee, an injury that also requires surgery and a significant recovery time, varying from three to six months, depending on the severity and the body's response to treatment.