Flamengo’s European experience could be an asset in the final against PSG: ‘Against any team’

This group includes names like Italian-Brazilian Jorginho and Spaniard Saúl Ñíguez, experienced midfielders signed mid-year – the number 21 was a European champion with Chelsea. Called up by the Brazilian national team over the last decade, Danilo – double European champion with Real Madrid – and Alex Sandro have had a partnership for years: they shared the locker room at Porto and Juventus.

The left-back faced PSG three times during his career, all in the European Champions League, of which the French are current champions: one victory and one defeat for the Portuguese club, and another setback for the Italian team. At 34, however, he says he is ready to make history with this new opportunity, in particular thanks to the current structure proposed by Flamengo.

— I had already congratulated the management, not only this one, but also the last one. Thanks to the signings, to the structure they created, for the players and other professionals. I had the experience of playing several times against Paris, against many players who are in the squad. I know how difficult this team is against its opponents. However, we are ready in our game to face PSG or any other team — Alex Sandro said at a press conference before training yesterday in Doha.

— When it comes to a final, there will always be butterflies in your stomach. I hope it continues like this until the end of my career, because it’s what gives life to the game, to our training, to our daily lives. But not just players who played in Europe. The players who have always played in Brazil are experienced, they have experienced a lot at Flamengo. At this stage, everyone passes on their experience and knowledge. Through this we see the trust we have in each other, and I am sure everyone will be 100% for this match, he added.

Flamengo’s list of ‘Europeans’ also boasts highlights such as Luiz Araújo, Erick Pulgar, Emerson Royal, Everton Cebolinha and Samuel Lino, signed for gold by Atlético Madrid last window. Bruno Henrique and Pedro had short experiences in Germany and Italy respectively. Varela, Ayrton Lucas, Carrascal, Plata and Juninho have launched into more alternative markets, such as Russian football.

And for those who have never played there, this season has been special in offering opportunities to face European clubs. Tomorrow will be the third time Flamengo will face a team from the continent in 2025. At the Club World Cup, mid-year, they beat Chelsea in the group stage and were knocked out by Bayern Munich in the round of 16. Both matches left essential lessons.

— We can’t make mistakes. The advantage of having played other matches is that you leave with experience. Against Bayern we failed on some shots and that was crucial for the defeat. We will try to minimize these mistakes, enter 100% focused and leave with this title – Luiz Araújo said yesterday. — We are not going to change the way we play. You have to be a little more attentive and a little smarter on defense.

The biggest idols of the current team, Arrascaeta and Bruno Henrique had another experience a little further, in 2019, when Flamengo lost the Club World Cup final to Liverpool. Six years later, both men are fortunate to have a different ending than that 1-0 overtime defeat.

Since FIFA began promoting tournaments with champions from all continents, during the 2005 Club World Cup, won by São Paulo, only Internacional, in 2010, had as many players with European experience in the starting team. There were eight of them, the same number chosen by Flamengo in the victory against Pyramids last Saturday.