FLAMENGO VOLANTE MAY BE EMBEDDED IN LIBERTADORES

Flamengo will face Grêmio in Porto Alegre, but an important absence has already been confirmed: Gabigol, one of the team's main attackers, will not travel with the red-black delegation. The player will remain in Rio de Janeiro, where he will focus on improving his physical form. The decision not to take the striker to the capital of Rio Grande do Sul aims to ensure that he has enough time to dedicate himself to physical preparation at Ninho do Urubu, the club's training center. Although there is no confirmed injury, Flamengo appears to be taking precautions to avoid wear and tear that could compromise the remainder of the season.

This choice may surprise some fans, as Gabigol is one of the team's key players and, generally, an undisputed starter in decisive matches. The absence of Gabriel Barbosa, known as Gabigol, raises questions about how Flamengo should arm the team offensively for the clash. Despite Gabigol's absence, Flamengo has alternatives in attack, with players like Pedro and Bruno Henrique, who can take the lead. The expectation is that the coach will use these options to compensate for the striker's absence.

The decision to spare Gabigol may be related to the club's long-term planning. Flamengo faces a marathon of important games, and the physical recovery of its athletes becomes essential to maintain performance in simultaneous competitions. According to information released by Mauro Cezar, Gabigol is focused on improving his physical side. This could mean that the player has been feeling the wear and tear accumulated throughout the season.

Flamengo has adopted a strategy of preserving some of its main players at certain times, aiming to avoid injuries that could sideline them for long periods of time. periods. This preventive measure is common in clubs that compete in several competitions and have a tight schedule. With this, the idea is that the athlete returns in better condition, ready to perform at a higher level in the next matches.

Forward Michael, from Flamengo, took an important step towards his return to the field this Friday (20). The player, who was away from activities due to an injury, participated in activities on the field, signaling an accelerated evolution in his recovery process. Although the initial deadline for his return was two months, the athlete's performance exceeded medical and technical expectations, opening up the possibility of an earlier-than-expected return.

Michael was injured a few weeks ago, in a situation that worried the medical department and Flamengo's technical committee. The injury, which would initially require more extensive treatment, led to the expectation of a prolonged absence. The deadline initially given by the doctors was two months, a period considered reasonable for the player to fully recover and be able to return to his normal activities at the club without the risk of a relapse.

When asked about the change between Ortiz and Pulgar, Tite made a point of defending the Chilean midfielder. “Pulgar is a national team player, he was performing well. Léo was playing in a position that he doesn't like so much. The intention was to maintain the team structure. We cannot draw conclusions from an isolated game”, stated the coach, justifying the tactical choice.

Despite the explanation, CRF had a performance that was far from ideal and, at no point, managed to seriously threaten Peñarol. The Uruguayan team controlled the pace of the match, not allowing Rubro-Negro to create clear scoring chances that could at least guarantee a draw and minimize the impact of the result.

Although the 1-0 defeat is not an irreversible score, Flamengo will need to present a very different stance in the second leg to guarantee the classification for the semi-final of the Copa Libertadores. The next match will be held on September 26th, at the Campeón Del Siglo Stadium, at 7pm (Brasília time). The team needs to win by two goals to advance directly, or at least return the score to take the decision to penalties.

Before thinking about the continental tournament again, Mengão will have an important commitment for the Brazilian Championship. On Sunday (22), the team faces Grêmio, in Porto Alegre, in a match valid for the 27th round of the Brasileirão. The match will be at Arena do Grêmio, at 6:30 pm, and will be crucial to keeping the team in contention for the national title.