Flamengo champion Danilo reveals the scoring move that Filipe Luis implemented in training

-It wasn’t my best match technically. There were a few moments where the ball slipped a little. But the finals were won. I learned it that way. I’ve learned from great captains that finals are won, no matter what the circumstances – he highlighted the defender after the match, who was already recognized as the title champion.

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In fact, from this lesson Danilo learned all the details. Winning has become your specialty. The 34-year-old veteran’s CV now includes two Copa Libertadores titles (another with Santos), two Champions League titles (and he is, in fact, the only one to have won two titles in each tournament); Two English championship titles, two Portuguese titles, one Spanish and one Italian. The Brazilian’s first could come on Wednesday, as Flamengo are one victory away from confirming the Serie A trophy.

This was not the first time that Danilo played a decisive role. In 2011, he scored Santos’ second goal in a 2-1 win over Peñarol. So, when Arrascaeta took the corner in the 21st minute of the second half and the ball headed towards him, the defender had no doubt what to do.

– That was another feeling we had, wasn’t it? You go into the field several times and there are situations that we can’t even explain. It’s a matter of feeling the hit, and understanding where the ball will land. And then, brother, put the ball in the goal. Then everything went dark, and I didn’t see anything else – he commented on his goal, which was actually coached by Filipe Luis.

— I learned to train to win, and I wanted to continue to have the possibility of winning important things. I can already tell you that scoring the goal in the final was not in that scenario. But, coincidentally, we set up the dead ball in such a way that I was the free man. So we knew I would have a chance if the ball went to our workplace.

In a way, it’s as if Danilo scored two goals in the game. This is because, in the 43rd minute of the final stage, and in one of the most dramatic moments of the decision, Gustavo Gomez’s header caused the ball to fall to the feet of Vitor Roque in the small area. The Palmeiras star had a knife and cheese in his hand to equalize. The only reason he couldn’t do it was because the defender carefully stopped him. There, it became clear that it was not Alverdes’ day. The afternoon in Lima belonged to the former full-back and now defender.

The deflection of Vitor Roque’s shot decided the special duel against the striker in Danilo’s favour. The first half witnessed a series of individual clashes on the right side. The Palmeiras player was overtaking him, dribbling him or forcing him to make mistakes. The red and black number 13 resisted until the end to emerge victorious.

– Obviously if Ortiz is chosen, we will be strong in the same way. Because this year we have worked exactly this way, to complement each other in our absence. Me, (Leo) Pereira, Ortiz and the players themselves (from the base) when they need to play. This is the creation of a winning combination — said Danilo.

It was the crowning night of his selection for Flamengo at the start of the year. After 12 years in Europe, Danilo has finally fulfilled his dream of playing for the club he has supported since childhood, influenced by his red-and-black father Jose Luiz.

– I have no words, because these details are in the history of Flamengo… I could have gone to several clubs. I had several proposals, and this is no secret to anyone. I didn’t think about money. It was about the need to keep winning and fulfill my childhood dream. So it all culminated on this special day – Danilo recalls: – When I came here, I said: ‘Guys, I’m back at Flamengo to fulfill my childhood dream and also to win.’ This has been the motivation for my career, and I learned it in the clubs I went to.

The same fate that made Danilo the title champion prevented his father from experiencing this moment. Emotionally, the defender revealed that a family loss on Friday forced Jose Luiz to return to Brazil before the final match.

— My father was coming to the game with my mother and brothers. But my aunt, his sister, eventually died. So he had to come back. He’s there at Bikas (MG) in front of the whole audience, and he couldn’t be here, unfortunately. But I also wanted to dedicate this victory to my entire family and especially to him.