Budget: Flamengo fails to meet important goal with elimination in the Libertadores

Flamengo failed to achieve the long-awaited "miracle of Montevideo" and was eliminated from the Libertadores. Rubro-Negro drew 0-0 with Peñarol, but ended up out of the competition due to a 1-0 defeat at Maracanã. Shortly after the end of the match at Campeón del Siglo, commentator Zinho highlighted coach Tite's responsibility, but also criticized the squad.

“Incompetence of Flamengo. They had ninety minutes to create, organize, they have a better squad, with greater investment, and they didn't turn that into superiority on the field. The coach is partly to blame, but so are the players. Tite looked for solutions, made changes, even had good ideas in the entries. But when we looked at the field, it was a mess”, said Zinho on ESPN.

In the opinion of the former Mais Querido player, both Arrascaeta and Nicolás de la Cruz did not appear in the match. As a result, Flamengo missed the "genius" of the Uruguayans this Thursday night (26).

“There was disorganization in the team, which played better in the first half. There was a lack of a center forward. Flamengo fit into Peñarol's marking. He tried to achieve the result based on will, and not on the organization. De La Cruz and Arrascaeta did not play today. They ran, they dedicated themselves, but I'm talking about technical quality”, he pointed out.

Now, Flamengo focuses its attention on the Brazilian Championship, trying to stay in the G-4. The next challenge will be against Athletico-PR, this Sunday (29), at 8pm, at Maracanã. This will be the first time that Tite will meet the fans again after his first elimination at the helm of the team.

After the elimination of Flamengoin the Libertadores, the stance of some players generated great dissatisfaction among fans. Specifically, Giorgian De Arrascaeta's attitude was criticized by part of the fans. The midfielder, who is considered one of the main leaders of the red and black squad, chose to ignore the Brazilian press and spoke only to Uruguayan media outlets. The choice generated negative reactions, with fans questioning the lack of respect and explanations to the Brazilian public, who expected a direct response from the athletes after yet another performance below expectations.

On leaving the stadium, in addition to Arrascaeta, other players from the Flamengo also avoided the interview area and quickly passed through the area designated for the press, without speaking. With the silence, the only red and black voice available to comment on the result was coach Sampaoli, who, despite his statements, was unable to alleviate the frustration of the fans, who asked for more responsibility and transparency from the athletes.

In an elimination scenario that, for many, was considered an embarrassment, the lack of explanations and the players' apparent lack of interest in talking to the fans further increased the pressure on the cast and management. On social media, many fans expressed their indignation. One of them commented: "What a regrettable attitude!", referring not only to the elimination on the field, but also to the lack of commitment from the players off it. The opinion reflected the feeling of a large part of the fans, who wanted clear answers about what happened and what will be done to correct the mistakes.

The choice of Arrascaetato grant interviews exclusively to Uruguayan press generated a heated debate. For many, it was seen as an attitude of disrespect towards Brazilian fans, who expected a more transparent stance, especially from an athlete who carries leadership status within the group. The situation generated a wave of criticism and accusations of cowardice and omission. “The cowardice, lack of posture and respect towards the fans is unbelievable”, said another fan, reflecting the indignation that took over social media.