Santos goalkeeper confirms Flamengo's offer and leaves future open

In the 3-1 victory over Internacional, Filipe Luís chose not to include Matías Viña among the squad. The Uruguayan full-back was left out of the match played on Sunday (17), at Beira-Rio, in Porto Alegre. After the match, the coach explained the choice and commented on the competition for the position.

" Competition. Alex Sandro is doing very well, he's a starter for the national team. Ayrton Lucas was our best player at the Club World Cup. Honestly, leaving one of them out is difficult. All three are doing well. When you have so many players, the coach's heart breaks. Ayrton Lucas had a great performance. It's great to see the competition for the starting spot," Filipe Luís declared in a press conference.

Ayrton Lucas was named the starting left-back and remained on the field for the entire 90 minutes. The number 6 actively participated in the attacking plays, including the start of the move that resulted in Plata's goal, the Mais Querido's third of the match. Alex Sandro, also an option for the position, was on the bench.

MATÍAS VIÑA CONTINUES TO BE IMPORTANT

Viña has been receiving opportunities since recovering from a serious injury. The Uruguayan caught the attention of fans with his physical strength and strong performances throughout the season , establishing himself as an important player for Mengão's left back.

FLAMENGO'S NEXT CHALLENGE

Flamengo will face Internacional again on Wednesday (20), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time) , for the second leg of the round of 16 of the Libertadores. With Matías Viña available, the team seeks to maintain its offensive performance and guarantee qualification for the next phase of the continental tournament.

Cruzeiro returns to the field this Monday (18), at 8 pm (Brasília time), against Mirassol , in a match valid for the 20th round of the Brazilian Championship. The match takes place at Estádio Maião and marks the beginning of the second round of the competition.

The Minas Gerais team sits second in the standings, with 37 points from 19 games, with 11 wins , four draws, and four losses. Considered one of the season's surprise packages, the Minas Gerais team is looking to maintain its strong performance to remain firmly in contention for the national title.

GABIGOL REMAINS AN OPTION

For the match against Mirassol, coach Leonardo Jardim is expected to repeat the starting lineup from the last few matches . Having failed to score in five matches, Gabigol will remain on the bench , with the possibility of coming on during the game to try to help the team.

LUXEMBOURG CRITICIZES GABIGOL

Longtime Raposa idol Vanderlei Luxemburgo spoke about Gabigol's performance during his appearance on the De Jogador para Jogador podcast. The coach was scathing in his criticism of the number 9. " Gabigol was never the player everyone thinks he is . He's a good player, but he had a moment at Flamengo under Jesus. He had two good seasons," Luxemburgo commented.

The former coach went further, citing the 2019 Copa Libertadores final. " He scored two decisive goals when River Plate had the championship won , and the coach (Marcelo Gallardo) lost. Is Memphis a star? No. Is Gabigol a star? No, he's a good player. But Kaio plays great football," he added.

After the Brazilian Championship victory over Internacional, coach Filipe Luís opened up about the physical development of Saúl , the Spanish midfielder who has been gaining ground at Mais Querido. The coach explained that the athlete's recovery requires patience , but highlighted his performance in the match played at Beira-Rio.

"Saúl had an excellent game. When he joined Flamengo , he wasn't training with any other team and was on vacation. Until he got back to fitness, I tried to give him minutes . This defensive midfielder role is so important on my team ; it's the heart of the team and demands a lot," he said at a press conference.

During the interview, Filipe Luís emphasized that it's not easy for an athlete to return to competitive rhythm after being sidelined. Still, he assessed that Saúl showed significant improvement: " It's not easy to come in and play, but I felt he was ready, and he significantly raised the team's level (against Inter)."

SAÚL ADMITS THAT HE IS NOT 100% YET

The midfielder himself also commented on his physical condition upon leaving the field. In an interview, the player revealed he was satisfied with his performance, but aware that he still needs to improve. " I felt good, but there are still a few things I need to do to be 100%. But this also gives me the confidence to help the team more with each game. We played a great, solid game. I'll feel better with each game," said Saúl.

FLAMENGO'S NEXT COMMITMENT

Rubro-Negro returns to the field this Wednesday (20), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time) , at Maracanã, to face Internacional again, this time for the second leg of the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores. The fight for a place in the quarterfinals should count on the presence of Saúl, who fights for position with Allan.