Tite puts his foot down and confirms Matheus Cunha as starter against Corinthians: "he's the goalkeeper of the World Cup"

Flamengo was eliminated from the Libertadores early. However, what frustrated the fans most was that Tite chose to leave Carlos Alcaraz on the bench and not use him when he needed a positive result against Peñarol in Montevideo.

So, after the victory of Mais Querido this Sunday (29) against Athletico-PR, where the Argentine midfielder started as a starter alongside Erick Pulgar, the player was asked in the mixed zone of Maracanã about the clash against Peñarol and whether he was sad about not being activated. However, Charly highlighted that he was ready, but that the entire cast needed to be closed.

“I knew that if I put myself out there, I would try to do my best, and if I didn't put myself out there, play, I would also support the team. We went into a very difficult match, we all had to be together, everyone moving towards the same side. The truth is that the result was not what we expected, but I am very calm about the commitment I have to the club, to my teammates and to the coaching staff”, says Charly.

After the elimination of the Libertadores, the red and black squad has only two competitions to focus on: Brasileirão and Copa do Brasil. Thus, in the national knockout stage, Mais Querido takes the field next Wednesday (2), against Corinthians.

The first game against the São Paulo team will be played at Maracanã, at 9:30 pm. In this way, Flamengo will try to gain an advantage for the return match, which will be at the Neo Química Arena.

Flamengo's victory against Athletico-PR was marked by many boos and protests from the red and black fans, who still did not accept Mais Querido's early elimination from the Libertadores. However, Tite minimized the booing and assessed the team's performance as positive.

"Understanding and respect. I understand the fans' expressions and love for the club. I seek to bring this maturity to the athletes so that they have the ability to resist, resilience, to try as it happened. That's why it deserved the score. In the last three games we had the performance, but not the result. This time, we had the performance and the result", said Tite.

During the match against. Athletico-PR, the red and black fans heavily booed Tite and the Mais Querido team. Furthermore, Flamengo's board of directors were one of the main targets of the protests.

Mais Querido won again in the Brasileirão after three games without being able to score in the competition . Now, Rubro-Negro has 48 points and is in fourth place on the leaderboard, with 9 less than leader Botafogo.

Now, the squad red-black shifts focus to the big decision next Wednesday (2). The match between Flamengo and Corinthians will be valid for the semi-final of the Copa do Brasil. The first game will be held at Maracanã, led by Rubro-Negro, at 9:30 pm.

Despite Mais Querido's victory over Athletico-PR, coach Tite did not escape harsh criticism from the fans at Maracanã. The fans' dissatisfaction, especially after the elimination in the Libertadores, was evident with boos and insults both upon the coach's arrival and departure from the stadium.

The team's irregular performance this season also contributed to the discontent of the Red and Blacks, who demanded more results and better performances.

During the post-game press conference, Tite commented on the protests from the fans, demonstrating understanding in the face of criticism. "I understand the demonstrations and the fans' love for the club. I seek to bring this maturity to the athletes so that they have the capacity to resist, resilience, to try as happened. That's why we deserve the score", declared the coach.

The pressure on Mengão increased last Thursday, when the team was eliminated from the Libertadores after draw at home with Peñarol. This result increased criticism of Tite's work and further shook the atmosphere at the club. Furthermore, the irregular performance in the Brazilian Championship, which removed the team from contention for the title, raised the tone of the fans' protests.

At the reunion with the fans, last Sunday, the frustration was evident. Even after the victory over Athletico-PR, chants of protest and dissatisfaction echoed in the stands, demonstrating that the climate of demand remains strong.

During the press conference, a journalist read a letter from an anonymous fan who questioned the coach about responsibility for the team's problems. Tite, in response, highlighted his commitment to work and dignity in the position. "I try to do my best, maybe I won't be the coach of your dreams. But the work and dignity you can be sure will always be there. Respect for you, the athletes and the entity will always be there", said the coach, showing confidence in leading the team.