Varela acknowledges difficulties and calls for a change in mindset at Flamengo
The mood at Flamengo following their 1-1 draw against Internacional in the 21st round of the Brazilian Serie A was not one of relief, but of reflection. In a post-match press conference in Porto Alegre, full-back Guillermo Varela was emphatic in stating that the team’s focus must shift from immediate results to the quality of their performance on the pitch.
“It’s about the style of play”
Varela acknowledged the delicate moment Flamengo is going through, admitting that the team is far from its best form. The Uruguayan highlighted that the priority now is to readjust their style of play. “It’s no longer about results, it’s not about points; it’s about the team, it’s about our style of play. We are not in our best moment. We have to work. We have about 15 days now to close the doors, start over, and get to work,” the player declared.
Flamengo‘s performance against Internacional was marked by a lack of dominance and difficulty in creating clear scoring chances. Despite equalizing in the second half, the team under Leonardo Jardim once again showed a performance below expectations, which increases the pressure to improve the brand of football being played.
Next match and the fight for the top
With the draw, Flamengo sees the gap to the league leaders Palmeiras grow to eight points, totaling 39 points compared to the 47 of the Alviverde. The Rubro-Negro’s next challenge will be against Vitória on August 9th at the Maracanã, for the 22nd round of the Brazilian Serie A. This preparation period, with about ten days until the next match, will be crucial for Leonardo Jardim and his coaching staff to find the necessary solutions to get back to winning ways and, above all, to play more convincing football. The task is clear: turn the current crisis into an opportunity for restructuring.
