“UNITED, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR FLAMENGO TO LOSE” ARRASCAETA ASKS FOR SUPPORT FROM THE CROWDS

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.

Argentine goalkeeper Agustín Rossi, who has been at Flamengo for over a year, has not yet fully adapted to the reactions of the fans during the games at Maracanã. After the 1-0 defeat to Peñarol, this Thursday (19), in the quarter-finals of the Libertadores, more than 60 thousand red and black booed the team, an attitude that displeased the player.

Rossi expressed his dissatisfaction with the booing that started in the first half. "The fans always want victory, that's normal. We also always look for a positive result. But I think these boos so early are unnecessary, just like what happened with Lorran during the Copa América. We still believe in the dispute. It was just a goal", commented the goalkeeper, showing confidence in the return game.

The boos at Maracanã they started in the 12th minute of the first half, after an error by Erick Pulgar when the ball was thrown, which resulted in Peñarol's goal. Since then, the Chilean has become the target of fans' dissatisfaction, who criticized him with every touch of the ball. In the second half, when he was substituted, Pulgar continued to be booed by the red and black team, reinforcing the tense atmosphere in the stadium. b>

In addition to the players, coach Tite was also the target of protests from the fans. Offenses were heard from the stands, which affected the coach, who admitted he was shaken by the insults. However, Tite preferred to focus on the future and showed optimism for the return game against the Uruguayan team.

With a 1-0 deficit, Mengão will need to reverse the score in the second leg, which will be held next Thursday (26), at 7pm, at the Campeón del Siglo Stadium, in Montevideo. Flamengo < /a>needs a victory by two goals to advance directly to the semi-finals of the competition.

With several casualties in the offensive sector, Bruno Henrique, 33 years old, will be the main name in Flamengo's attack in the next matches. The striker, who stands out for his long-standing partnership with Arrascaeta, believes that this harmony will be fundamental for the team to maintain its good performance in the competitions it competes in, such as the Brazilian Championship, the Libertadores and the Copa do Brasil.

"We are the players at the front. Arrascaeta is a classic midfielder, who knows how to create plays and finish. Being close to him increases the chances of scoring and assisting. With his quality and the more than six years we have played together, we understand each other just by looking at each other", stated Bruno Henrique in an interview with ESPN.

Flamengo will no longer have Pedro and Everton Cebolinha until the end of the season. Furthermore, Michael and Luiz Araújo are only expected to return to the pitch in the final stretch of 2024. Gabigol, who also faces physical problems, has been used less frequently. With this series of absences, the leading role falls to Bruno Henrique, who has the mission of leading the red and black attack at a decisive moment of the season.

To make up the offensive sector, Mais Querido also has newcomers Gonzalo Plata and Carlinhos, as well as young promises from the club's youth categories. Despite the losses, the expectation is that Bruno Henrique's experience and quality will be enough to keep the team competitive in competitions.