Bap orders Flamengo first-team return for Vasco, prompting unrest | OneFootball

According to Globo.com, president Bap ordered Flamengo’s first team to face Vasco in Wednesday’s Carioca clássico at 21:30 Brasília time at the Maracanã, overturning pre-season plans and causing internal unease.

The decision was made on Tuesday at Ninho do Urubu in a meeting with Bap, football executive José Boto and coach Filipe Luís. Bap, seldom at the CT, attended.

On Sunday, Filipe told the squad nobody would play. On Monday, players were told all would go to the clássico, then that Tuesday’s meeting would decide. The order ultimately came from the presidency.

Institutional pressure over the risk of a relegation quadrangular outweighed technical and medical plans, forcing a change of course. Sticking to the original path could have meant six fixtures instead of four.

The plan is to use the seniors against Vasco, then reassess for Fluminense based on the table. A win would ease Flamengo’s position.

Before the intervention, Filipe had upheld the initial plan. After the defeat to Volta Redonda, Bruno Pivetti was set to lead the under-20s in both remaining clássicos.

The football department had scheduled a full Wednesday session for the main group, focusing on the Brasileiro and the Supercopa do Brasil. Staff and players feel pitch time has been limited to protect fitness.

Saúl remains out after heel surgery, Danilo needs a few more days after playing through pain late in 2025, and De la Cruz is on a strict load protocol. The seniors would play only nine days after pre-season began on 12 January.

Source: Globo.com