Athletico: Erick admits 'uncomfortable zone'

In a sincere manner in the mixed zone after the defeat to Flamengo, midfielder Erick was the first figure at Athletico to talk about the risk of relegation. Days after coach Lucho González rejected any internal conversation on the topic, the player said that the team needs to be realistic.

“We need to be realistic, right? There’s no point in us coming here and saying everything is fine because it’s not. We’re three points away in a completely uncomfortable zone for us. It wasn’t what we planned for the year of the centenary, but we put ourselves in this situation and we have an obligation to get out of this situation because it is not worthy of Athletico. We need to get back on our feet to get the results necessary for us to get out of this uncomfortable zone”, said Erick in the mixed zone. Athletico Mil Grau channel.

Furacão occupies 15th place with 31 points, three more than Corinthians, the first team in the relegation zone. The team did not get any closer because São Paulo and Vitória also lost in the round.

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However, what makes Athletico’s situation worse is that the team hasn’t won in eight rounds. The last triumph came on July 28, against Cuiabá, away from home. Since then, the team has five defeats (Flamengo, Palmeiras, Vasco, Juventude and Grêmio) and three draws (Criciúma, Fortaleza and Internacional).

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Highlighting the importance of a victory to react in the Brazilian Championship, Erick also criticized himself and said that the group of players needs to stand up for themselves.

“Talking about evolution at this point in the championship is a bit complicated. We need to win again, regardless of whether we play well or not”, he assessed.

“It’s difficult to talk at this moment, everything becomes cliché. We, as athletes, have to stand up, be men at this moment and take responsibility because it’s not good. We were eliminated from the two competitions in which we intended to reach the final and unfortunately it didn’t happen. It’s in the past and we need to turn the key in the Brazilian Championship”, he added.

Erick hits inattention in the final minutes

The midfielder also acknowledged that Athletico has failed in the final stages of games. Against Flamengo it was the Brasileirão’s sixth stumble and the team let important points slip away in the final minutes.

“We have been looking for answers to these questions for some time. These are consecutive goals, conceded at the end of the game, which tends to hinder our team a lot. It is difficult to speak, to find an answer. Maybe to keep our attention”, he assessed.

Erick was once again used in midfield after spending two months improvising as a right-back. In his official position, he once again gave balance to the team. The player praised the team for its tactical disposition and collective dedication, but warned that it will take even more to seek the first victory in the midst of the crisis.

“We didn’t attack as much, but within the proposal we came to play, we did very well. We needed to do a little more work or step on the ball so that we could reach. We had a very different stance. We had a greater effort, all The world gave in and left exhausted, but it wasn’t enough. We need to do more so that we can win again”, he added.

Athletico is preparing to face the leader Botafogo next Saturday (10/5), at 4:30 pm, at the Ligga Arena, in Curitiba, for the 29th round of the Brasileirão.