Joshua on Jardim's main demand at Flamengo: “He revealed Mbappé” | OneFootball

Joshua got minutes against River Plate (ARG) this Friday (03)

Flamengo drew 2-2 with River Plate (ARG) this Friday (03) in a friendly played in the Algarve, Portugal, during Flamengo’s mid-season training period. One of the youngsters used by coach Leonardo Jardim was Caio Joshua, who came on in the 32nd minute of the second half and, after the match, detailed the lessons he has been receiving from the Portuguese manager.

— The gaffer helps me a lot with playing without the ball, because with the ball a lot of people already know my ability, my talent. He always asks me to play without the ball, because to play at a big level, a high level, like here at Flamengo, playing in the Brasileirão, the Libertadores, the Copa do Brasil, we also have to play without the ball —, Joshua began.

— A player has to learn how to play without the ball, so he keeps demanding a lot from me, helping me, guiding me. With the ball, he tells me to enjoy myself, to do what I already know how to do best. I have to thank him for that, for helping me, for developing me. I’m very happy and I hope to keep improving —, added the forward, in response to a question from Rock Hudson of Coluna do Fla.

WHAT DID THE COACH SAY TO THE ACADEMY PLAYERS?

Besides the individual guidance, Joshua said Leonardo Jardim also spoke with the academy products during the training period. The midfielder recalled the coach’s track record in developing talent and said the youngsters need to be ready to make the most of their opportunities.

— I already knew him from Cruzeiro, from Monaco. And he has huge experience, he knows academy players well. And he sees it in training, right? His eye is very good. Because he brought through Mbappé, Bernardo Silva, among other players. We have to be ready for every opportunity and show our football, which is what we know how to do best, and make the most of every opportunity —, Joshua pointed out.

HOW IS THE INTEGRATION BETWEEN THE ACADEMY AND THE FIRST TEAM?

During the camp in Portugal, first-team players and youngsters from the academy have been training together. For Joshua, that has been a positive experience and has made it easier for players who get opportunities under Leonardo Jardim to adapt.

— We’ve been getting along really well, the players (from the first team) already know us, because many of the academy players who are here have already moved up to the first team, already made their debut, already scored goals. We’re making the most of the opportunities. The gaffer knows us well, the whole group, the whole squad. Now it’s about making the most of it in the best possible way, enjoying every moment, because we don’t know what tomorrow will bring day to day. We have to be ready, prepared for every opportunity —, celebrated the academy product.

HOW DID JOSHUA REACT AFTER ANOTHER CHANCE?

Finally, the midfielder celebrated the chance to represent the first team in the friendly against River Plate. Joshua thanked Leonardo Jardim for trusting his work and reiterated his desire to earn a run of games so he can contribute more and more to Flamengo.

— I’m very happy. I only have to thank God for another opportunity. To be doing what I love. I also want to thank the gaffer for trusting my work. I think I’ve been doing a lot in training, during matches. So he’s giving me opportunities. I hope to make the most of them, to keep taking advantage of them so I can get more continuity and help our team more and more —, he concluded.

WHAT IS THE AUTHOR’S OPINION?

— Joshua is a kid with a lot of potential. Since Jardim said he will put the youngsters in the starting team on Wednesday against Lausanne of Switzerland, I hope the academy product can shine and ‘stamp’ his passport to stay with the first team —, said Pedro Paulo Catonho, journalist for Coluna do Fla.

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