Pulgar: Flamengo tire out less under Leonardo Jardim’s new style | OneFootball

Erick Pulgar was once again a starter with Leonardo Jardim in Flamengo's victory over Cruzeiro

Leonardo Jardim started off on the right foot with Flamengo. After winning the Campeonato Carioca, the Portuguese coach saw the Most Beloved defeat Cruzeiro 2-0 in the Brasileirão. After the match, Erick Pulgar noted that the team doesn't press all the time, which allows them to maintain good physical condition throughout the match.

— We left satisfied (after the game with Cruzeiro). We played well in all lines. We reduced the pace of pressing at all times, which was wearing us out a lot during the 90 minutes. We balanced the pressure more and were able to score the goals to win — said Pulgar, before responding about the differences with Filipe Luís's team.

— It's almost all the same. He (Leonardo Jardim) didn't say anything 'super important' that Filipe didn't tell us. We had the game base, and he came to complement and perfect things that we are reaping the benefits of on the field day by day. We are happy — added the Chilean.

WHAT WAS THE MAIN CHANGE?

Besides lowering the pressure lines, as Pulgar mentioned, Flamengo also holds the ball less with Leonardo Jardim. Against Cruzeiro, the Rubro-Negro had 44% possession. However, the team is more vertical (attempted more shots: 14 to 13) and, most importantly, scored more goals.

Just four minutes in, Pedro opened the scoring after a mistake in Cruzeiro's ball exit. In the last play of the second half, Jorge Carrascal took advantage of the opponent's desperation and sealed the game with a brilliant chip goal over Matheus Cunha, former Mengão.

THEREFORE, A MOMENT OF ASCENSION FOR FLAMENGO?

With Leonardo Jardim undefeated and without conceding a goal, Flamengo will try to maintain their good form on Saturday (14), starting at 8:30 PM (Brasília time). The opponent will be Botafogo, at Engenhão, for the sixth round of the Brasileirão. If Mengão is on the field, there is full coverage from Coluna do Fla.

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