Flamengo is in the semi-finals of the Intercontinental Cup. With two goals from Arrascaeta, they beat Cruz Azul 2-1 and won the so-called Derby of the Americas in Qatar. For coach Filipe Luís, the result was directly influenced by the adjustments made in the second half.
— Two teams with a very similar proposal. They took more risks, to the point of giving us a goal, because of the excessive risk they took when releasing the ball. But it also caused them to release our pressure on several occasions. After the goal, our team took a step back from the pressure. When he had the ball, areas and single balls would slip away. This meant that each loss of possession lasted two or three minutes of pursuit. It killed our attackers – admitted the coach at a press conference. —In the second half, some adjustments were made and the team felt better. We find ourselves on the ground where we feel comfortable. We dominated the game, we entered the opposing area more easily, we made them chase the ball. This made the whole process easier.
Filipe once again praised Arrascaeta, who has scored 25 goals this year, and said the ambition presented by the number 10 had influenced the team in a positive way this season.
— It’s simple, its sole and total merit. A super focused, focused and very ambitious guy. It always has been. This year, the whole team followed its ambition. He is perhaps the most ambitious player on my team. You want to conquer, to win, to continue making history. Demand of everyone, the club, the committee and your teammates. I’m just lucky to have had the best year of his career.
Next Saturday, Flamengo will face Pyramids, from Egypt. Whoever wins will go to the final against Paris Saint-Germain. The coach made his analysis of the team’s physicality in this final part of the season and projected the weekend’s match, saying that sacrifices might be necessary.
— We could talk about physical fatigue if the team fell in the second half, but it was the opposite. The team ran a lot. Players like Bruno Henrique, 35, continued to attack space, pressing until the end of the match. As I said, I see that our team is in a great physical moment.
— Some players may not make a full recovery, but the sacrifice must be made. We will choose the players who we believe are in the best condition to beat Pyramids. I have no doubt, since they are in the semi-final, they are a qualified team. And if they beat Al-Ahli, which is a great Arab football team, I have no doubt that it will be very complicated. But the challenge is what we have experienced during the season, we are very used to having two days to prepare for the match and our opponent a full week.
Filipe also explained the return of Léo Ortiz, who had not played since the end of October, and reinforced his confidence in the team’s defenders.
— My decision for today was because Ortiz has recovered. He played almost the entire season, more than 50 matches, at the Brazilian national team level. He, Léo Pereira, with the full-backs and Danilo were the least leaky defense in all competitions. I thought this was a play Leo Ortiz deserved to make. Well, he came back from injury, he recovered. But the good thing is that Danilo is ready if I have to come on and if I have to play in the next match, he is available.
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