Coluna do Fla
·28 July 2025
Filipe Luís: Rodrigo Caio makes set pieces key for Flamengo

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Yahoo sportsColuna do Fla
·28 July 2025
Set pieces were once again a partner to Flamengo. This Sunday (27), in a truncated game against Atlético-MG, the Rubro-Negro took the zero off the scoreboard with a great header from Léo Ortiz, on a free kick. After the game, when questioned about the team's evolution in this aspect, Filipe Luís highlighted the importance of Rodrigo Caio's arrival as a determining factor in the team's new phase.
— Set pieces are one of the phases of the game, we give it the importance it deserves because blocked games are often unblocked in set pieces. And we believe that the arrival of Rodrigo Caio, along with the entire coaching staff, has had a great influence on this potency. And the players themselves believe and are feeling powerful again in set pieces. It's essential that they feel the taste for this and always see that it solves games -, he said in a post-game press conference.
Rodrigo Caio took on the role of permanent assistant coach at Flamengo in May 2025 and began to integrate into the daily life of the professional squad at Ninho do Urubu. Back at the club where he was consecrated as a player, the professional is now part of the permanent coaching staff, working alongside Filipe Luís. The experience as a defender and tactical intelligence add to the environment and contribute especially in fundamentals like set pieces, which have regained prominence in the team.
Rodrigo Caio's performance has been frequently noticed on the field. In addition to the goal scored by Léo Ortiz this Sunday (27), another recent example occurred in the equalizing goal against RB Bragantino, also in a set piece, with Léo Pereira. Given this efficiency, Filipe Luís highlighted the importance of exploring this type of play, especially against opponents who defend well.
— It's a way to create. If you have eight corners, you have eight crosses into the area in a dangerous way with important players in set pieces. Of course, the last opponents, except for Santos and Bragantino, were opponents who tried to close themselves off more. Today, it was difficult the way Atlético played. The players know that it's 90 minutes, we have to be patient and defend well. The goal can come in several ways, it came, and what's important is the victory. We have a lot to evolve, improve the evolution. But set pieces were very important. The team created a lot to generate all the corners -, Filipe Luís stated.
Leaving the Brazilian Championship aside for now, Flamengo turns its attention to the Copa do Brasil. Thus, next Thursday (31), the red-black team faces Atlético-MG again in the first leg of the round of 16, at Maracanã. The game is scheduled for 21:30 (Brasília time) and will be broadcast live on SporTV, on the pay channel, and on Premiere, via pay-per-view.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.