Flamengo coach says he is sad but proud of his team even after defeat on penalties in intercontinental final
December 17
2025
– 6:35 p.m.
(updated at 6:35 p.m.)
Coach Filipe Luís revealed his feelings on Flamengo’s defeat against PSG (FRA) in the intercontinental final, this Wednesday (17/12), at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al-Rayyan, Qatar. During his post-match press conference, the coach said he was sad, but also proud of the match played by Rubro-Negro.
After all, they were facing a team “to admire”, according to the Flemish commander. Filipinho later lamented the penalty shootout defeat, saying that simply surviving extra time was a show of determination.
“Very sad to lose. I don’t like losing, I don’t like that feeling, but at the same time I’m very proud of my players. What they did today is historic for me. Of course, we were so close, on penalties. Closer than that against a team of this level, very difficult. But it wasn’t possible. This team is very strong mentally. This has always been the case throughout the year, in every final, in every moment of the “The team needed it the most, these players responded and continue to be different today. They fought for every ball, for every centimeter, for every space of the field against a simply magnificent team,” said the commander.
“Flamengo has managed to recover,” says Filipe Luís
Filipinho once again praised the PSG team, praising the fact that Flamengo managed to regain possession at times.
“It’s simply almost impossible to take the ball in Paris. This is a team that lost the ball once against Bayern Munich in the World Cup and twice in the semi-final of the Champions League last year, against Arsenal. They are very good, they play a lot, they have a lot of tactical variations, they move in such a way that we lose all the references, it’s an excellent team. We managed with our weapons to neutralize a little this deadly attack that they have, but this was not the case and it is enough to win, yes, to be able to equalize this match, to try to stop this attack, as I said, so deadly, and to succeed in equalizing in normal time”, he analyzed.
Have you received an offer?
When asked if he had received an offer from Europe at the end of the season, Filipe Luís was categorical. He denied it, revealing that he was 100% focused on the intercontinental conflict.
“I didn’t receive any offers. My head was only focused on this match, on the end, on Flamengo, because Flamengo was the best, and that’s how it is until today,” he revealed.
He also told reporters what he said to Flamengo players during the breaks.
“First, don’t change the way we play. We haven’t abandoned our style, which was to try to put pressure on Paris in every way, to take the ball away from them. But they are a very strong team, they press very well. Physically, they are very strong, they can withstand a lot of effort and then there are a lot of tactical variations, which makes it difficult to press. But at half-time, I tried to adjust in a way to try to create difficulties and create doubts. It gave us a certain advantage, a little more time with the ball, and we felt a little better. They have long possessions of two, three, four minutes, and of course, that tires you out. Our players, with 76 games in the season, were very exhausted in the second half, in overtime, but they were at their limits, that’s why I am so proud,” concluded the coach.
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