Rubro-Negro has changed coaches and has not yet found himself, while his rival has kept Diniz and is reaping the benefits
Flamengo is experiencing its worst moment of the season. This Sunday, Vítor Pereira’s team lost another, this time against Vasco, and on Wednesday they will have to contest the Guanabara Cup title against Fluminense. And it is precisely the differences in the programming of the Fla-Flu duo that can explain the low period of the Rubro-Negro.
At the beginning of this year, the boards of Flamengo and Fluminense made very different choices. While Rodolfo Landim, Marcos Braz and Bruno Spindel aimed high and hired Vítor Pereira, after crossing the Corinthians, Mário Bittencourt and his group trusted Diniz’s work. Paths set the pace for clubs at the start of the season.
DISMISSAL OF DORIVAL AND BANKRUPTCY OF VÍTOR PEREIRA
The choice not to renew with Dorival Júnior has not yet been fully clarified by the Flamengo board of directors, but its results are shown every week. The manager had an established job at the club and had won Copa do Brasil and Libertadores at the end of 2022. Even with the titles, the decision seems to have been to seek a higher ceiling with the arrival of Vítor Pereira, but, for now , the shot failed.
Rubro-Negro has failed in three competitions, Supercopa do Brasil, Mundial de Clubes and Recopa Sudamericana, and could accumulate another decisive setback precisely against a rival who has chosen another path. The Fluminense board of directors has bet on Fernando Diniz, even without titles and the continuity of the work is making the difference.
After an unstable start, Tricolor das Laranjeiras got back on track in the last few games and are having their best moment of the season. With Diniz, Ganso, Cano and Jhon Árias they continue to play very well, and the Fluminense defense is increasingly consolidated. The different moments between the clubs pass through the decisions of the top hats.
MARKET POSITION
The goals of Flamengo and Fluminense also clashed on the transfer market. The difference between the teams is stark, as Rubro-Negro has invested heavily in recent years, but that was not the case in 2023. So far, Clube da Gávea has brought in two players: midfielder Gerson and goalkeeper Rossi. However, the archer has not yet worn the shirt due to contractual problems with Boca Juniors.
The decision to keep the base that won the Libertadores and the Copa do Brasil rewarded the players but caused discomfort for Vítor Pereira. The Portuguese asked to hire a defensive midfielder and a fast striker, without success. Fluminense, in turn, refreshed the squad and gave Fernando Diniz interesting parts to work on.
In all, the Tricolore made ten signings, including big names and players to compose the squad. They are: Lelê, Gabriel Pirani, Marcelo, Jorge, Guga, Vitor Mendes, Vitor Eudes, Lima, Keno and Giovanni Manson. The factors only confirm that further criticism will be aimed at Flamengo’s football department, made up of Braz and Spindel, the main targets of the fans.
Until the derby against Vasco, however, there were no criticisms at the Maracanã, with social networks as the main stage. In the vice-championship of the Recopa Sudamericana, for example, Rubro-Negro left the field in the silence of the more than 70,000 fans present at the stadium. Whistles and curses took their place against Cruz-Maltino.
Flamengo and Fluminense will decide the Guanabara Cup this Wednesday, at 21:10 (Brasilia time), at the Maracanã. Rubro-Negro leads with 23 points and depends only on a draw to be champion, while Tricolor has 22 and needs a win to win the title.
Source: Terra
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