"We lost classification at home", says Gerson in a regretful tone

After the tragic elimination of Flamengo in the Libertadores, against Peñarol, the journalist Renato Maurício Prado, wrote in his 'Uol' column, questions, for him, without answers, regarding the work of Tite and the Flamengo board in the current season.

Following in full:

1. How can a team that needs to win not shoot on goal? In two entire matches, against Peñarol (which spends less than 15% of Flamengo's salary on its football), there were only two shots towards the rival's goal.

2. How can a coach leave the club's most expensive signing, Carlos Alcaraz, on the bench, preferring to exchange Fabrício Bruno for David Luiz, as if that would make any difference?

3. How can a coach who calls himself a "chameleon", for "knowing how to play in different ways", attribute the resounding failure of his work to the injury of a center forward, Pedro, around whom the team's entire scheme was created?

4. How this scheme never worked, even with Pedro on the field, during most of the poor Libertadores campaign, with defeats to Bolívar. Palestinian and what not?

5. How could the work of a year, considered by many to be the best Brazilian coach in activity, been unable to produce even a draft team with the supposedly best squad in Brazil?

6. How did Carioquinha's impregnable defense become a sieve, Swiss cheese, even though it has admittedly good quality players?

7. How did De La Cruz and Arrascaeta start to play so badly? What's wrong with preparing both?

8. How do Rodolfo Landim and Marcos Braz still think they will win their respective elections with another year of collecting failures, like in 2023?

9. How can Flamengo believe that they will win the Copa do Brasil by continuing such poor work?

10. How has Tite not been fired yet?

Flamengo was eliminated from the Libertadores after a goalless draw against Peñarol (URU), in Montevideo, and now focuses again on the Brazilian Championship. Athletico-PR, Rubro-Negro's next opponent, was beaten 4-1 this Thursday (26) by Racing (ARG) and also said goodbye to the continental competition, only to the Copa Sudamericana.

Having won the first leg 1-0, in Curitiba, Athletico-PR could even draw, which would advance to the semi-finals of the Copa Sudamericana. However, Racing opened the scoring a minute into the game through Agustín Almendra. Still in the initial stage, Adrián Martínez scored twice, and the Argentines took a 3-0 lead.

At the break, Nikão pulled one back for Athletico-PR. However, Racing once again opened up a large lead after Gastón Martínez made it 4-1 in the final stretch. The Brazilian team even looked for a reaction, but had a goal disallowed in stoppage time.

In this way, Racing advanced to face Corinthians, next Flamengo's opponent in the Copa do Brasil, with the games set for October. Finally, Cruzeiro and Lanús (ARG), who eliminated Libertad (PAR) and Independiente Medellín (COL), play the other match of the phase.

Athletico-PR has gone seven matches without winning in the Brazilian Championship. During this period, the people from Paraná stopped fighting for a place in the Libertadores and got closer to the relegation zone. Therefore, the team fired coach Martín Varini and agreed to hire Lucho González, who debuted in a rout against Racing, in the Copa Sudamericana. FLAMENGO X ATHLETICO-PRThus, with both teams focused on the Brazilian Championship, the game between Flamengo and Athletico-PR takes place on Sunday (29), at 8pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, in a duel valid for the 28th round of the Brasileirão. 

The Flamengomay suffer from significant absences between the 7th and 15th of October due to FIFA Data, which coincides with an important period of competitions in Brazilian and South American football. During this international window, several players who play for the Rio club are tipped to be called up by their respective national teams, which can have a direct impact on the lineup and the team's performance on the field.

The Brazilian team, Under the command of coach Fernando Diniz, up to four Flamengo athletes can be called up. One of the strongest names is Gerson. The midfielder has stood out for his versatility and quality in constructing plays, being a fundamental player for both the club and the national team. He has already been called up previously and has a great chance of being on the list for October's commitments, especially due to his ability to play in different positions in midfield, adding offensively and defensively.

Another possible call-up is Fabrício Bruno, a defender who has shown security in Flamengo's defense and gained more and more prominence. Consistency in recent matches could guarantee him a place on Diniz's list, especially considering the team's search for options to reinforce the defensive sector. His height and good presence in aerial balls are qualities that can be seen as essential.

In addition to him, Léo Ortiz also emerges as an option for the defense of the Brazilian team. Recently hired, the player quickly established himself in the starting lineup of Flamengo, showing good reading of the game and defensive solidity. His call-up will depend on the selection coach's assessment of the need for new alternatives for the defensive sector.

Finally, Ayrton Lucas, left-back, is another athlete with a great chance of being called up. His consistent performance, both in defense and in support of the attack, has attracted attention. He has become an important piece in Flamengo's tactical scheme and could be an interesting option for the Brazilian team, especially given the scarcity of prominent players in the position.