FANS QUESTION TITE'S NON-USE OF LÉO ORTIZ AT FLAMENGO - UNDERSTAND

Alex Sandro and Gonzalo Plata were the debutants in the classic between Flamengo and Vasco this last Sunday (15), at Maracanã. Even with the 1-1 draw, the players managed to play good football. Thus, both were praised by Tite during the post-game press conference.

"One of the aspects we talked about in the locker room was precisely this naturalness that the two athletes had (…) surprising even the level of performance they they had, debuting in the classic", said Tite at the press conference.

Gonzalo Plata was one of the highlights of the Flamengo in a 1-1 draw. This is because, according to information from the statistics portal Sofascore, the striker created four goal opportunities and finished four times. Furthermore, the number 45 made two dribbles and had three defensive actions.

Aléx Sandro played the 90 minutes of the classic and managed to create three goal opportunities, in addition of completing 60 of the 61 passes he attempted in the match. Furthermore, the full-back won five duels and had four defensive actions.

With Gonzalo Plata and Alex Sandro at his disposal, coach Tite begins his preparation this Monday (16). of the team for the decision against Peñarol, on Thursday (19), for the Libertadores. The first game will be at Maracanã, at 7pm.

Although Flamengo dominated the entire match against Vasco, the rival managed to take advantage of an error by the Red and Black defense and tied the match this past Sunday (15). Thus, Cruzmaltino's coach, Rafael Paiva, revealed that he was happy with the result.

"We are very happy with the result. I think the team, in addition to fighting, which is our brand, treating everyone The game felt like a final, at times we managed to play. We suffered, but we managed to put the ball on the ground, build, have transitions at the end of the game and showed the strength of the team we have", began Rafael Paiva, Vasco's coach. .

"Players who entered managed to participate in the goal and I think we are managing to improve the players we have more and more. We suffered, but we balanced the game. And we showed that Vasco has the strength to play against any team", concluded the Vasco coach.

Mais Querido reached 45 points in the Brasileirão standings after a draw with Vasco. Thus, the team led by Tite remains in fourth place, but with São Paulo and Bahia on their heels, as they won and reached 44 and 42, respectively.

Now, Mais Querido focuses on the Libertadores. Rubro-Negro enters the field next Thursday (19), in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the competition against Peñarol, at Maracanã, at 7pm.

The Flamengo is facing a delicate moment in relation to its medical department, with five important players treating injuries. The situation has generated concern within the club, which needs to find solutions for the absence of these athletes in decisive matches on the calendar. Currently, the players under the care of the medical department are: De La Cruz, Michael, Pedro, Viña and Everton Cebolinha. The nature of the injuries varies between muscle problems and more serious injuries, such as the Achilles tendon.

De La Cruz: The Uruguayan midfielder is sidelined due to a thigh injury. There is still no exact timetable for his return, but the athlete is in intensive treatment to try to return as quickly as possible. His absence has a direct impact on the creation of plays and the dynamics of the midfield, as De La Cruz is one of the team's main articulators.

Michael: The striker, who recently returned to Flamengo, also suffered a thigh injury. Like De La Cruz, Michael is undergoing treatment and his return to the field depends on his physical evolution. His speed and dribbling ability are missed, especially in moments when the team needs an element of surprise in offensive plays.

Pedro: The center forward suffered a knee injury and is away from activities with the group. Pedro is a key player in Flamengo's attack, being a reference inside the area. The injury is a concern, as the knee is a sensitive area for high-performance athletes. The club is closely monitoring his recovery, but time off the field is still uncertain.

Viña: The left-back is also treating a knee injury. Like Pedro, Viña's situation requires attention due to the potential severity of this type of injury. The Flamengo has used alternatives on the side to compensate for his absence, but Viña's absence is felt, especially in the defensive system.

Everton Cebolinha: The striker suffered an injury to his Achilles tendon, which puts him out of combat for an extended period. This injury is one of the most serious among injured players, and recovery tends to take longer. Cebolinha had been gaining more space in the team, but now Flamengo will have to find other options for the offensive sector.