Joel Santana reveals regret in Flamengo in 2008

in his biography , launched last Tuesday (18) at Rio de Janeiro , Joel Santana acknowledged that it should not have been ahead of Flamengo in the fateful game against the Mexico America , by Libertadores de 2008 . At the time, the red-black was eliminated with a defeat by 3-0 no Maracanã , even after winning the first confrontation 4-2 at Mexico .

o Flamengo It arrived packed for the return match of the round of 16. In addition to the advantage on the aggregate scoreboard, the team had won the Carioca Championship about Botafogo , and Joel said goodbye to take over the South Africa team . To top it off, the team had advanced to the round of 16 as the group leader in Libertadores.

The fans, which filled Maracanã, has prepared a great party . There was a tribute to the technician , delivery of a commemorative plate and autographed shirts. However, on the field, Flamengo had a disastrous performance and was eventually surpassed with two goals from Salvador Cabañas and one from Enrique Forgotten .

in Your Autobiography ," Joel SANTANA: The True King of Rio ", from Paddor Eye, the coach admitted that he was not in emotional conditions to lead the team that night.

"In fact, I should not have directed the team that day . I had no emotional conditions to that."

the weight of defeat and goodbye to Flamengo

The episode also hurts Joel Santana, as he himself revealed at the book's release. In conversation with the press, the technician remembered the atmosphere in Maracanã and confessed that at the last moment, he thought of staying at the club. However, his contract was already signed, and Flamengo had agreed with Caio Júnior to replace him.

"that hurt, because we had won America well in the first game. advantageous proposal at the time. what Go. When I passed the hallway of Maracanã, full of children hugging me, 80,000 people at the stadium ... When I wanted to stay, I didn't give more time. "

Flamengo campaign at 2008 Libertadores

o Flamengo advanced to the round of 16 as the leader of his group, adding 13 Points in Six games : four wins , a draw and one defeat, with nine Goals scored and four conceded.

The beginning of the campaign was irregular, with a 0-0 draw against bolognesi-per , A 2-1 win over cienciano-per and a defeat 3 to 0 for the national-URU . However, in the final stretch of the group stage, the team unleashed, winning the next three games without conceding goals: 2-0 in the National , 3-0 at science and 2 to 0 on bolognesi .

In the round of 16, Flamengo opened an advantage by beating America in Mexico by 4 to 2, with Goals of Marcinho (2), Diego Tardelli and Leo Moura . However, the party atmosphere charged its price, and the home defeat sealed the early elimination.

America continued in the competition to the semifinal, where it was eliminated by ldu-equ , which afternoon would become the champion of that edition.