SHOW WITH THE ORANGE BALL, FLAMENGO! PEDRO AND DAVID LUIZ WIN CHALLENGE DURING ORLANDO MAGIC GAME

In the last round of the Libertadores group stage, Flamengo, now under the command of coach Tite, saw its long undefeated streak as home team come to an end. The 1-0 defeat marked the end of a run of 28 matches without losing at home in the competition. The negative result was a shock for the fans, mainly because it occurred at a crucial moment in the season and because of the expectations surrounding the team led by a renowned coach like Tite.

The last time Flamengo had been defeated at Maracanã by the Libertadores was in April 2019, when Peñarol beat the red-black team by the same score of 1-0. The current setback, therefore, brought back memories of that game, creating a feeling of déjà vu among fans . It is worth remembering that, at that time, Flamengo was in a moment of transition and seeking to consolidate itself as one of the powers of South American football.

With the arrival of Tite at the helm of Flamengo, the expectation was that the team would gain tactical consistency and competitiveness in important tournaments, such as the Libertadores itself. Tite, who has a respected CV, mainly for his work in the Brazilian national team, was hired with the mission of making Flamengo become dominant again both on the national and international scene.

The defeat at home, however , served as a cold water for part of the fans who expected a quiet victory. Their unbeaten record at home was seen as one of Flamengo's trump cards in continental competition, a guarantee of strength within their domains. By losing this status, the team will now need to deal with the pressure and doubts that arise from this result.

After the 1-0 defeat to Peñarol, in the first game of the Libertadores quarter-finals, coach Tite held a press conference at Maracanã. The team did not perform well and was booed by the fans. Despite the setback, the coach remained confident for the second leg, which will be held in Uruguay.

Regarding the boos coming from the stands, Tite admitted that the fans' dissatisfaction is understandable. "Of course this hurts, especially on the human side. But experience shows that, when you deliver a good production, the fan's reaction is proportional to the love they feel for the club", said the coach, highlighting the emotional bond between the fans and the Most Dear.

The coach was also asked about the difficulty of Mengão in achieving victories away from home in the Libertadores, since 2022. The last victory away from home came on August 31, 2022, against Vélez Sarsfield, with an impressive 4-0. "We have a great opportunity to break this sequence This is part of the history of football, and I believe we are fully capable of getting there and changing this scenario", replied Tite, showing optimism.

Tite guaranteed that the team will be more effective in Uruguay, promising a better performance. "Within two or three minutes, we score the goal, and from that point on, we work on the result. In some moments we were hasty, and the opposing goalkeeper also had merit. But I'm confident that we will create half of the opportunities and convert them into goals there. You can charge me later", said the coach, projecting a positive scenario for the second leg.

David Luiz recently completed three years at Flamengo and does not hide the identification he created with the club during this period. After 14 years in Europe, he defines the current period as one of the best of his career. In an interview with the Copa City Studio podcast, the defender spoke about his relationship with fans and stated that Vini Jr, the Red and Black's creation, could win the Ballon d'Or.

David has 123 games, three goals and two assists since 2021. "It's one of the most beautiful pages of my career after many years in Europe to have the opportunity to return to Brazil and play for Flamengo," he said.

"Flamengo would not be great if there wasn't the Nation, the fans, this love, if the stadium wasn't full every game and everywhere we go. It's a fan base that truly loves, it's living fully, dedicatedly. anything in your life, with this pure feeling, you feel. This whole atmosphere that surrounds Flamengo, is felt. Flamengo moves me, it brings me every day, when I wake up, the desire to fight. , sadness, but it's what moves us. Being part of this is a sign that you're alive, it's a sign that Flamengo makes you live in a different way."

David Luiz on the Copa City Studio podcast< /p>

Created by Ninho do Urubu, Vini Jr is one of the competitors for the Ballon d'Or. David Luiz believes that the young man can take the prize. The winners will be revealed at a ceremony on October 28th.

"[He can win] without a doubt, he's already proven that. Last year was perhaps his best season. He's fighting with all the other greats talents that are now reigning in football."

David was champion of the Libertadores and Copa do Brasil in 2022, as well as Carioca in 2024, but suffered a severe blow in the defeat to Palmeiras in 2021. "In 2021 we lost the Libertadores and for me it was a huge blow. I thought it would be the first time in my career that I would win a title in an "easy" way because I would already reach the icing on the cake, I reached the semi-final. life is nothing easy, we lost. In 2022 we managed to make a huge turnaround in the middle of a tremendous season. It doesn't matter how it starts, it doesn't matter how it ends. Flamengo deserved to be enjoying this era of titles and putting the club where it deserves."

At 37 years old, David Luiz is the oldest in Flamengo's current squad, but he still doesn't think about stopping. He has a contract until the end of this year and is awaiting Fla's wishes to renew. "I want to play as long as I love football. I play for love, that's what moves me. I work to be able to play, but as long as there is love there will be discipline and responsibility."

Flamengo joined Arsenal and Bayern Munich is one of the first Copa City licensed clubs. The football management video game will be released in 2025.