Brazilian champion with Flamengo shares moving story with Adriano Imperador | OneFootball

Adriano Imperador won the 2009 Brasileirão with the Sacred Mantle, alongside Zé Roberto

The phrase “Let Mengão reach the final and it's over” describes the Brasileirão of 2009. This is because Flamengo started poorly in the championship but finished as champions in the final round. Thus, former player Zé Roberto recalls how important Adriano Imperador was.

— Everything changed against Atlético-MG because the guys said they would run over us and the media agreed. So, we were downcast, silent, and unmotivated in the tunnel to enter the field, but Adriano shouted: ‘Guys, come back, come back, let's go back to the locker room’ -, highlighted Zé Roberto.

What did Adriano Imperador say?

Back in the locker room, Zé Roberto recounts that the Imperador started a motivational speech. The red-black idol would have downplayed Atlético's confidence and emphasized that, in Rio de Janeiro, the fans trusted the team. Then, Didico spoke to each athlete and declared:

— Pô, Zé Roberto, you are my little engine. I only work with you, you complete me in the attack, let's go! And man, in the end, he said: ‘Pô, if everything goes wrong, guys, look at me because you have the Imperador by your side‘ -, the former midfielder told Flamengo TV.

How did Flamengo win the 2009 Brasileirão?

From the story told by Zé Roberto, Flamengo kept climbing up the competition table. In the final round, however, the Rubro-Negro needed to defeat Grêmio and for Internacional to lose simultaneously.

Thus, the Most Beloved did their part by triumphing 2-1, with goals from David Braz and Ronaldo Angelim. Then, the club from Gávea ended a 17-year drought without winning the Brasileirão.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.