Jardim on Plata at Flamengo, hails Lino, eyes altitude Libertadores tie

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·6 September 2026

Jardim on Plata at Flamengo, hails Lino, eyes altitude Libertadores tie

See how Leonardo Jardim’s press conference went after the win over Remo

A football coach in Brazil doesn’t have time to enjoy victories. At Flamengo, that statement carries twice the weight. After the big 1-0 win over Remo at Mangueirão, Leonardo Jardim already had to answer questions about the Copa Libertadores and the ‘Plata issue.’ The coach spoke about whether he is counting on the player for Thursday (10), against Independiente del Valle (ECU).

“As for Plata, he should arrive. If he is physically fit… There are still four days left until the match, so we’ll make that decision later on,” Jardim replied. The forward was expected in Rio de Janeiro on Friday (04), but only arrived this Sunday (08). That way, the Ecuadorian is expected in Belém to join the squad that will head to Quito, after failed negotiations with Dynamo Moscow (RUS).

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The match will be played at Quito’s altitude, 2,850 meters above sea level. When asked about Flamengo’s strategy for the first leg, starting at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time), Leonardo Jardim made it clear that the team needs to stay ‘alive’ to decide things at the Maracanã.

— As for Thursday’s match, we’ll try to prepare in the best possible way, respect the opponent, who is on a very good run, and it’s a match at altitude. But we want to be efficient so we can bring the tie to the Maracanã and get qualification, which is our objective —, he said.

SAMUEL LINO FLYING

Against Remo, Samuel Lino once again made the difference for Flamengo, scoring with a toe-poke in the 19th minute of the second half. With that, Leonardo Jardim praised the playing options that the number 16 offers to the rubro-negro tactical setup.

— Lino has shown this season that he is versatile. He can perform more than one role. He responded well to some ideas I had for him and has been able to carry out that proposal both in attack and in defense. He is a different player from Arrascaeta, from Carrascal… he gives the game different nuances. He is another individual quality within the collective. You know I strongly defend the team structure —, Jardim praised.

FLAMENGO’S GROWTH

— What is crucial for us to keep moving forward is, first, humility. The ability to work, respect every opponent, and keep the intensity we have shown, even in the most difficult moments. — That is very important, without getting carried away. We didn’t get carried away when everyone was already counting us out (of the race), so we’re not getting carried away now either. We are motivated and will keep working every day so we can represent Flamengo at the highest level.

BRAZILIAN FAN BASES

— I’ve said it a few times already, I don’t know if at Flamengo, but one of my motivations for coming to the Brazilian Championship was the fans. Sometimes we compare leagues, but in one thing this league is strong: the fans. There is celebration. And I’m not talking only about Flamengo’s fans, because today we saw Remo’s supporters put on a spectacular show. In every stadium there is celebration. I’ve been in several leagues, but I don’t see anyone as passionate as here in Brazil. — I worked in Asia, at Al-Hilal, which is also a club with a huge following. When we won the Asian Champions League, there were 200,000 people celebrating. In Portugal, at Sporting. In Greece, at Olympiacos. But here the fans come to welcome the teams, not just Flamengo. Even second-division fans put on huge celebrations. That’s why I say a lot of people discuss this league’s place on the world stage, but I’m sure that when it comes to fan support, it is number one.

HOW TO BREAK DOWN REMO’S DEFENSIVE BLOCK

— We created several situations. I remember at least two shots from Lino, from Arrascaeta, Paquetá’s header, the great save on Pedro’s chance… When I made the substitution for BH, it was to give us a more aggressive option on crosses. We were trying to get into the channel and have presence in the box. I told him to play more centrally to help Pedro as a second striker. — But after we scored, we went back to the initial structure. In the final minutes the pitch was unplayable, the ball wouldn’t roll, and everything came down to duels. But everyone made a special sacrifice. To fight, to win duels. That’s what a team is. The game changed, we had to play differently in the final part, with more fight and grit, and that is something I like my teams to represent.

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