In a press conference, the coach begins his speech by citing the 2019 tragedy in Ninho do Orobo and dedicates the title to the youth and other players.
Felipe Luis His name is engraved in Flamengo history. As a player and now as a coach. He became the first person to achieve this Libertadores As a player and now as a coach. In the press conference after the win over Flamengo, Filipe Luis was emotional when he mentioned his family and praised the dedication of the red and black team. But, first, he recalled the tragedy the club went through nearly six years ago.
“It was very difficult to get here,” he added. “There was a lot of collective effort, both individually and collectively. A lot of sacrifices on the part of the players. And we did it. We achieved our big goal. I still haven’t digested everything that happened today. There were tense moments this week. But if you ask me if I expected it, of course I did.”
Before the starting whistle, the use of Leo Ortiz, who is still in a transitional phase after injury, was still unknown. The Flamengo coach said that the defender did his best to be on the field, but he would give up space if that was what was best for the team. Danilo ended up starting alongside Leo Pereira, scoring the only goal of the game and ensuring Flamengo became the first Brazilian team to win the Copa Libertadores four times.
“Only he (Leo Ortiz) knows how hard he worked to be present in this final. I spoke to him this morning and asked him how he felt. Because he earned the right to tell me what was in his heart at that moment. And he said that, of course, that he wanted to play. But it would have been better for him, even, to win without playing. Because the only thing he wants is to be a champion. And if I think he can hinder the team by being away for a month, he would prefer me to choose Danilo,” said Filipe Luis.
But it wasn’t just Danilo who won Flamengo’s fourth title. The coach was keen to highlight other players who were not present on the pitch in Lima, but who during the season were just as important as those who played for Palmeiras on Saturday (29).
“In the end, Danilo played. He won many champions wherever he went. Alex Sandro, Jorginho… If I start talking here I will not stop. But they are players who enter the field and they are dogs, they are champions. You feel that they do not play in the final. They play a combined game, calm, calm, and control all the spaces”, he stressed, also referring to Varela and Leo Pereira.
“For me, the most important thing is the team. Without him we wouldn’t be here. For example, remember Gerson and Wesley. Without them we wouldn’t be where we are today, certainly not. Pedro. We wouldn’t be here without Pedro. This title is also dedicated to him because of what he has done for us and will continue to do.”