What Saúl said about playing again after 10 games out | OneFootball

Spanish midfielder came on for Lucas Paquetá late in the match and spoke about his second straight appearance off the bench

Saúl replaced Lucas Paquetá at the end of the game between Flamengo and Remo in the 26th round of the Brasileirão. As a result, it was the second straight match in which the Spaniard came off the bench. Before that, however, the midfielder had gone ten games without playing a single minute.

What did Saúl say in the mixed zone?

– I’m doing very well and I’m happy to be able to play and help on the pitch. A player always needs to be ready for the moment the coach decides to use him. Of course everyone wants to be a starter, but Flamengo comes first –, said Saúl, who added

– The club always comes before any individual. We work to be ready and give our best. Of course, after a long time without playing regularly, it takes some time to get back to top match rhythm, but it’s an understandable process –, said the midfielder in the mixed zone at Mangueirão.

What was Saúl’s scoreless run of games at Flamengo?

The ten-match drought recently came to an end with the Spaniard coming on in the win over Mirassol. So before that spell away from the pitch, the midfielder’s last match had been against Coritiba in the 17th round of the Brasileirão, on May 30.

On that occasion, he played only 15 minutes in place of Erick Pulgar in a 3-0 win for the Rubro-Negro. Against Mirassol, the Spaniard played 17 minutes, but only six against Remo.

As a result, that run also kept defensive midfielder De La Cruz on the bench. After all, the Uruguayan had been cleared by the medical department, but Leonardo Jardim preferred Saúl.

Flamengo officially signed Saúl on July 23, 2025, as the club’s first signing of that transfer window. The midfielder therefore signed a three-and-a-half-year contract, valid until December 2028. The deal came shortly after the termination of his contract with Atlético de Madrid (ESP).

When is Flamengo’s next match?

Flamengo face Independiente del Valle (ECU) this Thursday (10) in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals. The match will take place in Quito at the Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa at 9:30 p.m. Brasília time. So Saúl’s run of minutes could also increase given the squad’s packed schedule.

See Saúl’s other answers in the mixed zone:

Was the match against Remo more difficult than expected?

We knew it would be a difficult match. The weather, the pitch, and the opposing team, which plays direct and is pushing to reach the third phase, made the game complicated for us. However, I think our team did things well and worked hard. In the end, we knew how to suffer and hold onto the result. We’re very happy to get a third straight win in our last three matches, which was crucial for us.

How important was it to have this contact with the fans here in Belém? You’ve played your whole life in Europe, so what was it like to see that reception?

It’s incredible. Anywhere in Brazil and South America, when we play away, it feels like we’re playing at home. Here they divide the stadium, and our section is completely packed. I have only words of thanks for these fans. The only way to repay them is by doing what the team has been showing: leaving everything we have on the pitch for them and for ourselves.

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