Flamengo and four reasons for the failure in the Club World Cup

Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia pulverized the status of favorite of Flamengo, current champion of the Copa Libertadores. It was of no use to the most popular club in Brazil to arrive with the poster of dominator of South America and as one of the favorites. On a universal plane, the terror that it instills in its region because of its so-called financial power (because it can hire, like other Brazilian entities, veteran soccer players who no longer have a place in Europe, or for repatriating players who did not transcend in the Old Continent).

He was left out of the Club World Cup final after losing 3-2 on Tuesday in Tangier. With a maximum penalty double from Salem Al-Dawsari (4 and 45 minutes) and a goal from Argentina’s Luciano Vietto (70), the Asian monarch gave a surprise by subduing a Flamengo in which Pedro was his scorer (20 and 90+ 1).

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“It’s the first time we’ve reached a final, so the Arab people will be happy. The players have been making a huge effort. We must congratulate them, the leaders and the fans who support us”, said the coach of Al Hilal, the Argentine Ramón Ángel Díaz, who loudly celebrated the classification.

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according to the newspaper ACE these are the four main reasons for the failure of the red and black in the Club World Cup.

1. Technician change. Dorival Junior put together a formidable team, especially on the offensive end. He made Pedro and Gabigol an unstoppable duo in the Copa Libertadores. But the directive was not entirely satisfied, for inexplicable reasons. They opted for the coach to hire Vitor Pereira. The Portuguese, for the moment, has not hit the key and has already added two big disappointments. Defeat in the Super Cup and against Al Hilal.

2. Tuning. Since the final of the Copa Libertadores, on October 29, 2022, the great pillars of the team stopped competing and only a few of them played Brasileirao minutes. Then they had practically 40 days of vacation and the Rio team did not play a game again until January 13. They barely had time to prepare and this lack of competition was noticeable against a much more intense rival and with the ideas of DT Ramón Díaz implanted for a long time.

3. The loss of Joao Gomes. The midfielder went to Wolverhampton and was essential in 2022. He was a specialist in defensive work, stealing balls and pressing. Although a guarantee replacement like Gerson arrived from Marseille, he had a disastrous day with the penalty committed and the double yellow card before the break. Flamengo has missed Gomes’ energy.

4. Filipe Luis. The veteran left-back (37 years old) has barely played two games this season and his experience and tactical intelligence are essential. The second of them was played last Wednesday. However, that was not enough for him to be part of the Club World Cup semifinal. Pereira preferred Ayrton Lucas in his place. (D)