Flamengo must keep egos in check before it becomes a problem | OneFootball

Flamengo has managed to quickly put out small sparks within the squad. Fortunately. In a team filled with important players, all it takes is one poorly handled complaint for it to turn into a fire.

Saúl Ñíguez, Samuel Lino, and Pedro recently showed frustration on the field. Afterwards, all three were given space to present their versions to the press on the same day. The episode was handled as it should have been: without turning an expression of discontent into a locker-room crisis.

Leonardo Jardim also deserves credit. The coach did not take the easy route of exposing a player, responding to provocation, or turning a complaint into a public power struggle. He remained calm and allowed the incident to lose momentum.

But that is precisely where the most delicate part begins.

The line between personality and indiscipline

Being calm does not mean being permissive. A player can complain. In some circumstances, he even should. Anyone who competes wants to play, wants to be involved, wants to make the difference.

The problem begins when an individual reaction starts to cast doubt on a decision that belongs to the coach.

And that needs to be very clear at Flamengo.

The star player can complain. The coach needs to decide.

There is a huge difference between showing frustration and challenging the hierarchy.

The first is part of sports. The second erodes any group.

Flamengo cannot create an environment in which every substitution comes with an argument, every spell on the bench is interpreted as an insult, and every player believes his importance gives him some kind of free pass to challenge decisions.

It does not.

Pedro is not bigger than Flamengo. Samuel Lino is not bigger than Flamengo. Saúl Ñíguez is not bigger than Flamengo. And no one ever will be.

That does not mean turning players into obedient soldiers. Football does not work that way.

An athlete needs personality, needs to demand, disagree, and even show dissatisfaction. But there comes a point when the door to the pitch has to close and the coach’s decision has to be respected.

Leonardo Jardim will be tested in moments of conflict

That is when Leonardo Jardim will truly be tested.

Not when the team is winning and everyone is smiling. A coach’s real test comes when an important player is substituted, a reserve comes on, and the starter does not like it.

That is the moment when authority is measured.

Leonardo Jardim has adopted smart communication by not exposing players publicly. But protecting the player does not mean giving up hierarchy. In fact, it should mean exactly the opposite.

The stronger the squad, the greater the collective discipline needs to be.

Flamengo has players capable of deciding matches. It also has players who will need to accept the bench, substitutions, and rotation. That is inevitable in a long season.

The danger lies in turning personality into privilege.

A team starts to lose its way when each player begins to defend only his own space. The coach picks the team with the collective in mind. The player thinks about his own performance. If no one sets limits in that equation, the locker room becomes a silent battle for the spotlight.

And Flamengo does not need that.

It needs players who want to play, of course. But above all, it needs players who understand that wanting to play does not give anyone the right to decide who should play.

The final word must remain the coach’s.

And when the ball starts rolling, the only thing that should matter is Flamengo.

(*) Wilson Pimentel is a journalist, radio host, businessman, and co-founder of RTI Esporte Agency.

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