Thiago Silva admits Fluminense doubts, fans right after Libertadores draw

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·12 August 2026

Thiago Silva admits Fluminense doubts, fans right after Libertadores draw

Fluminense left the Maracanã to boos on Tuesday night (11) after drawing 0-0 with Independiente Rivadavia in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16. After a performance below expectations, Thiago Silva acknowledged that the team is going through a period of low confidence and admitted that the mistakes made during the match directly hurt Fluminense’s performance.

In the captain’s view, Fluminense failed to show the football it is capable of playing and ended up making things easier for the opponent’s game plan, which was to exploit the spaces left open and break quickly.

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If you don’t play a good game, you don’t create many chances. Our game was far below what we’re capable of. But now is not the time to point fingers. Each of us has to take the responsibility we need to take so that we can try to play a little better

Thiago Silva also pointed out that the team ended up allowing Independiente Rivadavia to find the conditions it was looking for to play at the Maracanã. For the defender, the string of technical errors increased the players’ insecurity during the match.

We gave them what they wanted. That’s what I don’t understand. They came looking for transitions and we gave them transitions. But anyway, now is the time to stay calm. Knowing that it’s level and trying to play a better game there, individually and collectively. Today we made a lot of mistakes in ball control, passing, and that drains our confidence

Captain acknowledges fans’ criticism

The boos from the stands after the final whistle were also addressed by the No. 3. Thiago Silva said the Fluminense fans have every right to demand more from the team, especially given the recent performances and the expectations surrounding the side.

The fans are absolutely right to make that kind of demand, because for some time now we haven’t been performing our role at our best and we haven’t been delivering technically or physically what they expect from us. The criticism only came at the end today; they tried to support us the whole time

The defender also stressed that the squad will have little time to process the result and look for solutions. Fluminense return to action on Saturday, when they host Palmeiras in the Brazilian Championship, before traveling to Argentina to decide their place in the Libertadores quarterfinals.

At the end, the anger and the feeling of sadness come, just as they do for us players too. We’ll try to improve, to talk and sort it out. We don’t have much time to dwell on it because Palmeiras are already here on Saturday, and on Tuesday we have to go to Argentina and try for a positive result

With the draw in the first meeting, qualification for the Libertadores quarterfinals remains completely open. Fluminense will need to beat Independiente Rivadavia away from home to advance directly. Another draw will send the tie to penalties.

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