After securing a spot in the Libertadores semifinals, midfielder Paquetá acknowledged a lackluster showing against Independiente del Valle and projected the necessary improvement for the remainder of the season.
Flamengo‘s qualification for the Libertadores semifinals came with a degree of apprehension last Thursday (17th). Despite a 1-1 draw against Independiente del Valle and consolidating their aggregate lead (3-1), the red-and-black team’s performance at the Maracanã stadium fell short of expectations. Among the players who had a difficult night, Paquetá was one of those most criticized by the fans, and he admitted that his individual performance was below his usual standard.
In an interview in the mixed zone, the number 11 player did not shy away from criticism. He pointed out that, in addition to the team’s collective technical difficulties, the quality of the pitch and the opposition’s defensive positioning hindered his style of play, requiring more time on the ball.
Self-criticism and focus on the next stages
Paquetá‘s time on the field lasted 59 minutes, until he was substituted by Arrascaeta, who scored the goal that sealed qualification. During his time in the game, the midfielder made several passing errors and mistakes in ball distribution that led to dangerous opportunities for the Ecuadorian team.
“We didn’t play a good game. I, particularly, was far below what I can do, and that ends up influencing things on the field. The pitch also wasn’t helping us much to make plays. We need to improve. At the end of it all, our fans’ support was essential, with Arrascaeta scoring the goal to qualify us, so the important thing was completing the objective”, analyzed Paquetá.
The player reinforced that the opponent’s pressure in tight spaces undermined confidence during the match, but stressed that the focus now is on mental preparation for the upcoming challenges.
Next steps and absence
With qualification secured, Flamengo is now preparing to face Estudiantes (ARG) in the semifinals of the continental competition. The first match will take place at the Argentine team’s home ground, during the week of October 14th, while the decisive second leg will be in Rio de Janeiro the following week.
Before shifting focus back to the Libertadores, the M360 Team highlights that the club is focused on the Brazilian Serie A. The league leaders will host Red Bull Bragantino this Sunday (20th) at 6:30 PM. However, for this commitment, the red-and-black coach will not have Paquetá available, as he will serve an automatic suspension due to accumulating yellow cards, opening up opportunities for new creative options.
