Fans point out problem that could hinder Flamengo in the return match against Corinthians on FIFA Data - See

In a match played on Thursday night (26), Flamengo drew 0-0 with Peñarol at the Campeón del Siglo Stadium, in Uruguay, for the return of the Libertadores quarter-finals. The result ended Rubro-Negro's participation in the continental tournament, leaving the club out of the title race. With the elimination, the team now turns its attention to national competitions, including the Brazilian Championship and the Copa do Brasil.
TITE EXPLAINS DECISION ON GABIGOL

After the draw, coach Tite talked about the choice not to start the match with Gabigol among the starters. The attacker, who came on in the second half, only had one clear shot, but had little influence on the game, something that has been recurring since the coach took charge.

"Any observation made now may seem simple. If we don't put Gabi in, it's because we don't put him in. If we put him in, it's because we put him in. After the game, everything is easy to criticize. We wanted a player in the area, and this was reflected in an important chance. Unfortunately, we were unable to convert it into a goal", declared Tite.

NEXT CHALLENGES IN THE BRASILEIRÃO AND BRAZILIAN CUP< With the result, the Mengão says goodbye to the Libertadores and directs his focus to national disputes. The team's next commitment will be for the Brazilian Championship, when they will face Athletico-PR on Sunday (29), at 8 pm, at Maracanã, for the 28th round of the competition. Furthermore, the club remains alive in the Copa do Brasil, with the mission of seeking titles in 2024.

The Flamengo did not clear the scoreboard in the draw with Peñarol at the Campeón del Siglo stadium, on Thursday night and was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Conmebol Libertadores. In a press conference after the match, Tite was asked about the promise made after the first game, that the team would score goals in Uruguay, and which was not fulfilled.

"I did imagine, that with half of opportunities, but it didn't happen. It created a big number too. There were some important details: the good performance of the goalkeeper again and our precision in some moments to speed up the process. ", said the coach.

Asked about the reason for a qualified coach not being able to make an also qualified squad play better, Tite cited several points in the context, but pointed out as the main one the loss of Pedro, who had been Brazil's top scorer in 2024 and was seriously injured in the national team:

"We have to look at a very broad context. There were moments: we arrived to qualify for the Libertadores directly, and we did. Being Rio de Janeiro champion, we can compete in all three competitions, because Flamengo has that need. Then, we had a series of players called up to the National Team, there was the Brazilian Championship... This is the first "no" of the objectives. The most important of the objectives, I agree (Libertadores). But it also had a calendar with a series of difficulties that we had. The biggest of them, I say again, for shaping the team, was Pedro: the player in the area, the infiltrator, with his characteristics, I'm not talking about demeriting the others. The offensive structure was a little lost, we tried with BH, the return of Gabi, Carlinhos... In the final product, it didn't do what it should have done."

And now ?

With the draw, Flamengo falls into the Libertadores and postpones Tetra's dream of the competition. However, they will need to turn the key to the two remaining competitions of the season: Copa do Brasil and Brasileirão. For the national championship, the red and black team will face Athlético-PR, next Sunday, at 8:30 pm, at Maracanã.

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According to information from journalist Guilherme Silva, the Flamengois directing its attention to the Copa do Brasil, which implies a clear change of priorities in the calendar. The decision is strategic and motivated by the impact that a possible title in the knockout competition would have on the club's electoral context, as the presidential elections take place later this year. As a result, the team should not enter the classic against Fluminense in the Brazilian Championship with full strength, opting to preserve the starters for the clash against Corinthians, in the quarter-finals of the Copa do Brasil.

This choice makes it clear that the Brasileirão, which is historically considered one of the most important tournaments for fans and for the club's own history, will not be Flamengo's main focus at this time. The decision is based on short-term factors, as the Copa do Brasil title can be decided before the end of the Brazilian Championship. In other words, a trophy won in the knockout round would bring immediate electoral benefits and would represent an important campaign asset for the current administration.

DID NOT GO WELL WITH THE FANS 

The “Election Effect ”, as it has already been called internally, is a movement to ensure that a title with greater impact in the short term — such as the Copa do Brasil — arrives before the end of the Brasileirão, as the running points continue until December. Thus, an eventual Copa do Brasil title would be used as an asset for the candidates in the situation, something that the management sees as fundamental to garner political support and maintain control at the club.

With this strategy outlined, the squad planning and The lineup in the Brazilian Championship games will be changed according to the Copa do Brasil matches. Against Fluminense, for example, Flamengo must enter the field with an alternative team, sparing some of the main players. In normal situations, a classic like Fla-Flu would have maximum importance and the presence of full force would be indispensable. However, the total focus on the Copa do Brasil changes this dynamic and shows that the club is willing to take risks in the Brasileirão to maximize its chances in the knockout competition.