Jardim hits back at Vitória boss, heats up Flamengo tie in Copa do Brasil | OneFootball

Flamengo coach warns of off-field pressure at Barradão that “could go beyond football”

Leonardo Jardim spoke about the “tense atmosphere” on the eve of the decisive Copa do Brasil match and said he is already feeling extra pressure coming from the opponent. The Flamengo coach stressed that, with Vitória’s complaints about the refereeing, the atmosphere for this Thursday’s (14) clash has become much heavier.

Because of this, the coach emphasized that the Rubro-Negro squad needs to prepare mentally before taking the field. According to Jardim, the team must be mentally strong, as he expects to find difficulties at Barradão that could go beyond what happens with the ball in play.

— I’ve already played Vitória once. They’re talking about the refereeing, but I felt anger and extra pressure. We have to prepare the team mentally because other things besides football may happen -, said Leonardo Jardim.

WHAT DID VITÓRIA’S COACH SAY?

After the first match of the fifth round of the Copa do Brasil, Vitória showed dissatisfaction with the refereeing in the 2-1 loss to Flamengo. In a recent interview, coach Jair Ventura made it clear that the Bahia-based team is “fired up.”

The coach of the Bahia side also took the opportunity to call for fair refereeing in the decisive match. Looking ahead to the clash, Jair Ventura said: “We’re going up against the best squad in Brazilian football, but it’s in our home. I hope the refereeing will be fair.”

WHAT ARE THE DETAILS OF THE FLAMENGO VS. VITÓRIA MATCH?

In a heated knockout atmosphere, Flamengo and Vitória face off this Thursday (14) at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) at Barradão, with a spot in the Copa do Brasil round of 16 on the line. Since they won the first leg 2-1, Mengão only needs a draw to advance in the competition. It is worth noting that the tournament does not use the away-goals rule. Therefore, if the aggregate score is level after the 90 minutes, the decision will go to penalties.

So fans don’t miss any detail, Flamengo supporters can follow the best coverage on the internet through Coluna do Fla, on YouTube and on social media. In addition, SporTV, on cable TV, and Premiere, via pay-per-view, will broadcast the match live throughout Brazil. Carrying a first-leg advantage, the squad led by Leonardo Jardim will try to seal qualification on Bahia soil.

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