Filipe Luís: Crisis overblown, Flamengo dream, "Not in football"

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Coluna do Fla

·18 August 2025

Filipe Luís: Crisis overblown, Flamengo dream, "Not in football"

Flamengo is Leading the Brasileirão and Remains 'Alive' in the Libertadores

Flamengo put on a 'show' this Sunday (17) and defeated Internacional 3-1 in the 20th round of the Brasileirão. Thus, after the match, coach Filipe Luís dismissed talks of a possible drop in Fla's performance and showed confidence in the continuation of the season. He also revealed a dream related to Mengão and lamented the excessive pressure in football.

As a coach, I want it to be a thrashing for 90 minutes, my dream. Ideally, my team wouldn't suffer a shot on goal and would take 20 shots on goal. That would be my dream, but that doesn't exist in football. Players fluctuate, get tired, go through phases during the game, gain confidence, lose confidence... It's normal for the team to stop thrashing at some point. The problem is the expectations. We have expectations because Flamengo has a highly qualified and valuable squad. I was talking to my assistant, when you have a healthy person and every day you look at them and say 'are you sick? Feeling anything?' Actually, they are fine, but in the end, they will think they are sick, start doing tests, look in the mirror. It's a bit like what happens to us - said Filipe Luís.

IS FLAMENGO IN A BAD PHASE?

Part of Flamengo's fans believe the team hasn't been able to present its best level after the World Cup. Even so, the Most Beloved has good numbers since then: in 11 games, there are eight wins, one draw, and two losses. Moreover, Mengão occupies the first place in the Brasileirão and is ahead in the round of 16 of the Libertadores.

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We are doing well, we are leaders of the Brasileiro, we have won several games, we don't always play well, but the team is going through this very intense and long season in a spectacular way, but there is always something pointed out to us, saying 'now you're not scoring from open play, only from corners'. There is always something they want to tell us that we are sick, but in fact, the group is doing well, at a decisive moment, perhaps the most important game of the year is coming now and we need to believe that what is being done is being done well. That these demands, which are normal, do not affect what is being done here -, concluded the coach.

WHAT IS FLAMENGO'S SITUATION?

As previously mentioned, Flamengo is the leader of the Campeonato Brasileiro, with 43 points. With the victory against Internacional, the Most Beloved distanced itself at the top of the table, as Palmeiras is in second place with 39. However, it is worth noting that Cruzeiro will still play in the round, this Monday (18), against Mirassol.

WHAT IS FLAMENGO'S NEXT GAME?

Now, Flamengo prepares to face Internacional again, this Wednesday (20), for the return leg of the round of 16 of the Libertadores. The match takes place at 21:30, at Beira-Rio, in Porto Alegre. As tradition dictates, Coluna do Fla will provide the best internet coverage through YouTube, the website, and social media.

It is worth highlighting that Flamengo is in advantage in the round of 16. This is because Filipe Luís's team won the first leg, held at Maracanã, 1-0, with a goal by Bruno Henrique. Thus, the Most Beloved can even draw at Beira-Rio and still secure qualification to the next phase of the Libertadores.

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