In five games, Diniz used four different pairs of defensive midfielders
On May 10, Fluminense won a big victory over Cruzeiro, in Minas Gerais, but suffered an injury to midfielder Alexsander. According to a club statement, the youngster has been diagnosed with a tear to the medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
Since then, the Tricolore have played five games, used four different pairs of defensive midfielders and are on a fast of four consecutive games without a win, with three consecutive defeats. Coach Fernando Diniz has yet to find the ideal replacement for one of the biggest talents in national football and who was a key player in winning the South American U-20 championship.
In the duel against Cuiabá, the coach had to call on Thiago Santos and Lima, as André was suspended for receiving a red card against Cruzeiro, while Alexsander was absent from Flu due to injury. Far from being brilliant, the team from Rio was far from having a great game, but managed to be efficient by winning 2-0.
In the classics against Flamengo and Botafogo, Diniz joined André in place of Thiago Santos, while Lima remained in the starting lineup. The choice had no effect, given that Rubro-Negro played an excellent first half against Fluminense, who didn’t attack much after Felipe Melo’s expulsion, while Alvinegro neutralized Tricolore.
In Bolivia, Fluminense opted for an alternative formation and used Thiago Santos with Martinelli, who returned from injury after a long absence from the field. On Sunday, Diniz was back with André and kept the youngster from the base of Xerém in his second game for the Brazilian championship.
In addition to the difficulty in finding a player to make up for Alexsander’s absence, the Fluminense team loses a lot of quality in the ball, in the variation on the pitch and in his presence in the area to contribute with goals and assists. the ball at his feet and a mature maturity for a 19-year-old.
With Aleksander on the pitch, Marcelo saw opportunities to play in centre, while the Brazilian Under-20 athlete played at left-back, as she did at the start of the season until the veteran’s return. In this exchange of positions, Marcelo was responsible for a great move in the match against Sporting Cristal, in Lima, in his team’s second goal, but he also scored a beautiful goal against Flamengo in the decision of the carioca championship.
COMPARISON WITH 2022?
After Fluminense’s defeat against Corinthians, Eduardo Barros, assistant coach of Fernando Diniz, commented on the difficulties encountered during the season due to injuries or suspensions. The commander recalled the loss of a player at a “pivotal moment” in 2022 and that it took the team some time to adjust and build rapport.
Even if Barros didn’t mention a name, Fluminense suffered from Nonato’s departure in the summer transfer market. The athlete had been one of the pillars of the midfield alongside André, but the athlete decided to venture to Europe and play for Ludogorets.
In 2022, Nonato participated in 36 games for Fluminense and exited the field of play with defeat on only two occasions against Botafogo (Semifinal of the Carioca Championship) and Coritiba (Brazilian Championship). In clashes in which he was on the bench or was not related, Tricolore lost seven duels.
And immediately after the athlete’s departure, Fluminense was eliminated from the Copa do Brasil, losing 3-0 to Corinthians at the Neo Química Arena, as well as suffering four more defeats in the last 14 rounds of the Brazilian championship. In the final stretch, Diniz managed to lock the squad with André and Martinelli to a seven match unbeaten run, with six wins.
Close to a new ‘decision’ for the Copa do Brasil, Tricolor das Laranjeiras are looking to hit the side at the worst moment of the club’s season, which comes in a streak of four games without a win and without scoring a goal. And Diniz has the week to think about who should team up with André in search of a faster report.
Source: Terra
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