Léo Ortiz projects Flamengo x Fluminense and reinforces the importance of training time

The classic between Flamengo and Fluminense takes place this Thursday (17th), at 8pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã. One of the highlights of the match is the defender Léo Ortiz, who, after the arrival of Filipe Luís, returned to his original position and raised the level of the defense.

Léo remembers his first games on the bench at Flamengowere against Fluminense, although he did not enter the field on that occasion. The player comments on the atmosphere of the classic and the importanceof this confrontation.

“My first two games here, even though I didn't play because I was on the bench, were the Carioca semifinals, with Fla- Floss. You can already feel the size of the classic and the atmosphere. Even because it was a semi-final, it had a different atmosphere. Then there was this Brazilian Fla-Flu, which we managed to win with a penalty goal”, says Léo Ortiz in an interview with ‘GE’.

For the defender, Flamengo still has a chance to fight for the title, which makes the game even more significant. He believes that the team must enter the field demonstrating all its quality to increase the chances of victory over its rival.

“It is a Fla-Flu of great importance for both sides, in which the two teams are fighting for their goals in the championship . We have to focus on Fla-Flu, and the Brazilian Championship is a championship in which we can still fight at the top”, he comments.

“We have to put our quality above that, balance our footprint too, because classics are played that way. And I'm sure we have good conditions to continue these victories and arrive well for the Copa do Brasil at the weekend”, he says.

However, Léo Ortiz also recognizes that “classic is classic”, which implies dangers, balance and challenges ahead.

“I'm sure it will be very balanced. When it's a classic, things are equal, we have to be prepared because it's going to be a very difficult game, and they have a lot of quality despite the phase they're going through”, he warns, remembering the bad phase of five defeats in six tricolor games.

THE PAUSE FOR THE FIFA DATE

The FIFA Data break led seven Flamengo players to leave, but it also provided Filipe Luís the opportunity to implement his game ideas. With ten days of training, the new coach had time to study and present his proposals to the squad that remained at Ninho do Urubu, something that Léo Ortiz highlights in his statements.

“I think it was the first training sequence we had with Filipe. He had little time to work, there was a lot of video. During this time of FIFA Data, it gave him more room to implement things from his work, in practice, of course without some players who are on his national teams”, he concludes.