Was it worth the price? See De La Cruz's numbers for Flamengo this season

Another decisive factor in Tite's assessment is Gabigol. The coach highlighted that the attacker has been dealing with recurring physical problems, which hampers his preparation and participation in games. Injuries not only prevent a player from maintaining a streak, they also affect their confidence and ability to perform at a high level. Without being 100% physically, the tendency is for the player to avoid greater efforts, which, in practice, compromises his performance.

Tite was clear in stating that caution is needed when using an athlete who is not in good health. full conditions. Forcing Gabigol's return before he is fully recovered could worsen his physical condition, further compromising his season and the team's planning. Gabigol's absence has a significant impact on the Flamengo team, both due to the technical quality he brings to the attack and his leadership on the field.

However, Tite highlighted that the athlete's health and well-being are priorities, and that forcing his presence without the appropriate conditions would be harmful not only for the player, but for the team as a whole. Even with Gabigol's absence, Flamengocontinues to look for alternatives in the squad to maintain a good performance in competitions.

The responsibility for maintaining a competitive level falls on other players, and coach Tite has used this opportunity to test new formations and strategies, aiming to minimize the impacts of the lack of one of the country's main attackers.< /p>

Coach Tite explained the absence of Gabriel Barbosa, known as Gabigol, in the latest squads and games for Flamengo. According to the coach, the striker faces a series of physical problems that have compromised his performance on the field since his arrival at the club. Furthermore, recurring injuries and the lack of continuity at a high intensity level have been determining factors in the player not being available in important matches.

Gabigol, who has become a fundamental player at Flamengo in recent years, has been suffering from a loss of rhythm in the game and, consequently, a drop in performance. According to Tite, the attacker is not in ideal conditions to compete at the highest level, which justifies his absence from the most recent squads.

The main point raised for Tite to justify Gabigol's absence is the player's physical condition. He mentioned that the striker has not been able to maintain regularity in terms of intensity during training and matches. This directly affects the athlete's performance, who is no longer able to perform in the same way as before. For Tite, the lack of continuity at a high level of performance is one of the biggest concerns.

This scenario calls into question the ability of Gabigolin contributing effectively to the team, since Flamengo has a tight schedule, with important games both in national and international competitions. Tite was direct in pointing out that, at the moment, the player does not have the appropriate physical conditions to face this pace of play.

The Flamengotakes the field today against Peñarol in the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores with a single player at risk of suspension due to the accumulation of yellow cards: Nicolás de la Cruz. The Uruguayan midfielder, an important part of the squad, will be suspended for tonight's match. This means that, if he receives a yellow card during the game, he will be automatically suspended from the second leg, which will be played in Montevideo, Uruguay, in the team's next match in the competition.

This is a situation which creates some tension for Flamengoand for the player himself, as a possible absence of De la Cruz in the second game could be a significant absence. The Rio club needs to guarantee a positive result at home to travel to Montevideo with a margin of advantage. Furthermore, they will need to think about their strategy if De la Cruz receives the card and cannot play in Uruguay, which could impact the team's dynamics.