Soccer

SAMPAOLI CLAIM FLAMENGO AS 'GREATEST IN THE WORLD' AND EXALT THE BRAZILIAN ABOVE LALIGA

The coach revealed how the Brazilian Championship has an impressive level of demand

Sampaoli in the Field / Gilvan Souza
Sampaoli in the Field / Gilvan Souza

12 Jun 2024 | 18:21 |

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Without leading a team since September 2023, when he was fired by Flamengo shortly after the defeat in the Copa do Brasil decision, Jorge Sampaoli opened up about the experience he had in his third job in Brazilian football. The Argentine was in charge of Rubro-Negro for just over five months, and also coached Santos and Atlético-MG in Brazil.


Speaking in an interview with Spanish newspaper Marca, Sampaoli highlighted the level of demand of the Brasileirão, and did not hesitate to refer to Flamengo as “the biggest club in the world”.


“Brazil is the most demanding league I have participated in”, said the coach. “Ten thousand times more than the Spanish, for example. It's played every two days, you have to win always, always, always. Even more so in Flamengo. There is great popular demand at airports, in hotels, everything is very intense. Flamengo is the biggest club in the world, with 45 million fans. You can't lose a single game.”


The coach ended his time at Flamengo with 39 games played between April and September 2023.

There were 20 wins, 11 draws and eight defeats during the period, in a termination agreement that cost R$9.5 million to the red and black coffers.


“They evaluate you by the numbers. At Flamengo we got 70% of the points, but that wasn't enough. In Brazil, if you don't win, you have to leave. We lost the final (of the Copa do Brasil to São Paulo) and left. Losing teaches us, even more so if we have time to review our mistakes”, said the coach, who also responded about the reason why he still keeps Rio de Janeiro as his home.

“I did very well at Santos , at Atlético-MG and a little at Flamengo. My youngest children were born in Brazil, although my partner is Chilean. We adapted to Rio.”

When asked by the report if he would accept taking over a team in Brazilian football again, Sampaoli left the doors open.

“I would accept. I would also like to train in Europe or anywhere in the world where there is a serious and lasting project. In Brazil, the madness is excessive, and every three games they fire a coach. In Europe I notice a little more patience. There is a lot of urgency to win and playing is not valued.”


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Soccer

Flamengo will have an important return to the starting lineup against Estudiantes in the Libertadores

Recovered, defender returns to Filipe Luís's team for the first leg of the Libertadores quarterfinals; Jorginho is doubtful and could be out

Léo Ortiz returns to Flamengo's starting lineup against Estudiantes and reinforces the red-black defense in the first leg of the Libertadores - photo: reproduction
Léo Ortiz returns to Flamengo's starting lineup against Estudiantes and reinforces the red-black defense in the first leg of the Libertadores - photo: reproduction

18 Set 2025 | 12:20 |

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Flamengo will have an important reinforcement for the duel this Thursday (18), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã. Defender Léo Ortiz returns to the starting lineup after serving an automatic suspension in the Brasileirão and is confirmed for the first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals against Estudiantes.


In addition to Léo Ortiz , other players are available again for Filipe Luís , including Varela and Bruno Henrique, who were rested against Juventude. Alex Sandro and Jorginho, on the other hand, remain doubtful and will have their fitness assessed shortly before the match.


HANGING ROD


Right-back Guillermo Varela, the team's starting right-back, is on the field with a yellow card. If he receives another warning, the Uruguayan will be out of the second leg, scheduled for September 25th at Jorge Luis Hirschi Stadium in La Plata.

PROBABLE LINEUPS


To face Estudiantes, Flamengo must maintain the base of the team that has been playing: Rossi; Varela (Emerson Royal), Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira and Ayrton Lucas (Viña); Saúl, De La Cruz (Jorginho) and Arrascaeta; Plata, Pedro and Samuel Lino.

Eduardo Domínguez will have almost his entire squad available for the game later today. He's expected to field the following: Muslera; Román Gómez, Santiago Núñez, Facundo Rodríguez, and Santiago Arzamendia; Ascacíbar, Gabriel Neves, Amondarain, and Medina; Tiago Palacios and Guido Carrillo.


Soccer

Alert! Flamengo has a player suspended for the match against Estudiantes.

The full-back has a yellow card and, if he receives another punishment at the Maracanã, he will be out of the decisive clash in Argentina in the quarterfinals.

Flamengo's Varela is suspended for the match against Estudiantes in the Libertadores - photo: reproduction
Flamengo's Varela is suspended for the match against Estudiantes in the Libertadores - photo: reproduction

18 Set 2025 | 11:59 |

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Flamengo takes to the field this Thursday (18) , at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), to face Estudiantes at Maracanã for the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores. In addition to the weight of the confrontation, coach Filipe Luís needs to manage an extra concern: right-back Guillermo Varela is suspended and could become an important absence for the return leg , scheduled for September 25, at Jorge Luis Hirschi Stadium, in La Plata.


After resting some starters over the weekend, Filipe Luís will have reinforcements for the match. Varela, Bruno Henrique, and Léo Ortiz return after absences against Juventude , increasing the team's strength. Meanwhile, Alex Sandro and Jorginho are doubtful and will have their fitness assessed hours before the game.


STUDENTS ARRIVE WITHOUT STAFF


On the other side, Estudiantes will have confirmed absences. Coach Eduardo Domínguez will be without González Pirez and Edwuin Cetré, both in the medical department. Even so, 27 players traveled to Rio de Janeiro and completed their final training session at Fluminense's training center in the West Zone. The Argentine team reaches the quarterfinals after defeating Cerro Porteño 1-0 on aggregate.

PROBABLE LINEUPS


FLAMENGO (Coach: Filipe Luis): Rossi; Varela (Emerson Royal), Leo Ortiz, Leo Pereira and Ayrton Lucas (Viña); Saul, De La Cruz (Jorginho) and Arrascaeta; Plata, Pedro and Samuel Lino.

ESTUDIATES (Coach: Eduardo Domínguez): Muslera; Román Gómez, Santiago Núñez, Facundo Rodríguez and Santiago Arzamendia; Ascacíbar, Gabriel Neves, Amondarain and Medina; Tiago Palacios and Guido Carrillo.


Soccer

What is Estudiantes' likely lineup against Flamengo in the Copa Libertadores? See

La Plata Club goes to Rio de Janeiro to face Mengão at Maracanã for the first leg of the competition's quarterfinals

Check out Estudiantes' likely lineup to face Flamengo in the Libertadores quarterfinals - Photo: Reproduction/Conmebol
Check out Estudiantes' likely lineup to face Flamengo in the Libertadores quarterfinals - Photo: Reproduction/Conmebol

18 Set 2025 | 11:33 |

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On Thursday night (September 18), Flamengo and Estudiantes face each other at Maracanã , in Rio de Janeiro, for the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores 2025. The ball rolls at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), with exclusive broadcast on ESPN and Disney+.


COMPLICATED PROJECTION


Coach Eduardo Domínguez acknowledges the difficulty of the match, but is confident in the Argentine team's ability to achieve a good result away from home. Estudiantes arrives with high morale: they had a solid campaign in the group stage and eliminated Cerro Porteño in the round of 16 , with three away wins and only one loss, against Botafogo.


Probable line-up: Fernando Muslera; Román Gómez, Santiago Núñez, Facundo Rodríguez and Santiago Arzamendia; Tiago Palacios, Gabriel Neves, Santiago Ascacíbar, Mikel Amondarain and Cristian Medina; Guido Carrillo.

HEAVY DEFAULTS


Estudiantes will be without key players for the Rio clash. 33-year-old defender González Pírez, a River Plate alumnus, suffered a Grade 3 injury to his right hamstring and is expected to be out for at least a month, missing both games against Flamengo .

In attack, Colombian Edwuin Cetré, 27, is also out. He suffered a grade 1 muscle injury to the biceps femoris in his left leg and will not play at the Maracanã . However, he is expected to recover for the return leg, scheduled for September 25th in La Plata.



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