give Flamengo more defensive intensity with players still poorly conditioned

I warn you: it will not be easy for Vítor Pereira to calibrate the team’s intensity without taking bold measures in Flamengo’s next games.

Starting with the confrontation with Al-Ahly, this Saturday afternoon (11), in Tangier, Morocco.

And understand by “bold measures” any action that strengthens the middle line.

As long as the conditioning of the most talented players is not adequate, the Reds will have to sacrifice technical quality in favor of defensive solidity.

The system can work if the team manages to impose itself on the ball, but always running the risk of being overcome by the opponent’s intensity.

It’s that simple!

And I believe, incredible as it may seem, that Gérson’s expulsion in the 3-2 to Al Hilal may have facilitated the selection of the team for this match.

The presence of Erick Pulgar alongside Thiago Maia (only and exclusively this one!) would give Arrascaeta and Everton Ribeiro a little more support in the resumption.

Flamengo was disorganized in the defensive phase after the sale of João Gomes and that reminds me of Dorival Júnior’s return to the club last year.

The team left by Paulo Sousa was dispersive, loose, with a pattern in Libertadores, another in Brasileiro.

Dorival changed the methodology of physical and tactical preparation, and made the adjustments that, for more than one reason, Vítor Pereira still hasn’t managed.

After three defeats, he put João Gomes and Thiago Maia in place of Arão and Andreas, and launched Pedro in the attack in place of Bruno Henrique, injured.

Vítor Pereira hasn’t had this time yet, and even more so with title disputes after 26 days of work – practically, in pre-season.

And due to absolute bad luck, he lost young Victor Hugo, who broke his foot in the match against Audax, for the Guanabara Cup.

This one, perhaps was (or is!) a potential occupant of the vacancy opened with the (unjust) expulsion of Gérson.

Because, despite being only 18 years old, the midfielder that Dorival played as a midfielder has characteristics that Vítor Pereira also values: stamina, good technique and vertical play.

He participated in 37 matches in 2022 (17 as a starter), scored three goals and provided four assists.

It would even be, therefore, who, in this moment of physical instability, who could give the team the intensity desired by the Portuguese coach.

Winning Al Ahli is calming down and starting the preparation aiming at the 180th minute against Independiente del Valle, from Ecuador, in the Recopa decision.

In ten days, Flamengo will play its first game in Quito, with two matches until then: on Wednesday, the 15th, they will face Volta Redonda; and on Saturday, the 18th, Resende.

Both at Raulino de Oliveira, in Volta Redonda.

But it’s hard to believe that those older starters will arrive for the first game of the decision in the conditions desired by Vítor Pereira.

At Corinthians, when he realized that the “medallions” did not “deliver” the desired rhythm for the quick recovery of the ball, the coach made radical changes.

And he started to leave them on reserve until their physical conditioning enabled them to compete without the ball.

And this is today the biggest challenge: to make the offensive quartet (Arrascaeta, Everton Ribeiro, Gabriel and Pedro) more intense in defensive recomposition.

Dorival Júnior needed ten games to be sure of the ideal formation – now what?

SUBTITLES / CREDITS:

Photo 1: Vítor Pereira discusses with assistants the best options to give Flamengo more intensity in the defensive phase – Gilvan de Souza / Flamengo

Photo 2: Gabriel Barbosa and Arrascaeta in action in the tactical training held in the city of Tangier for the game against Al Ahly – Gilvan de Souza / Flamengo