Renato repeats mistakes, Fluminense fall to Lanús: the situation | OneFootball

Fluminense managed to turn what should have been routine into drama. Yesterday, at La Fortaleza, the Tricolor lost to the modest Lanús by 1-0, with a goal conceded in the last minute. And the defeat has a name and surname: Renato Portaluppi.

This is not an isolated stumble, but a portrait of a poorly assembled team, predictable and lacking creativity. Renato insists on reviving the trio of defensive midfielders that worked in the Club World Cup – Martinelli, Hércules, and Nonato – as if facing Inter Milan or Chelsea were the same as playing against Bahia or Lanús. The scheme is bureaucratic, stifles creativity, and hides the talents that could give Fluminense the offensive prominence that the squad demands.

Worse, the stubbornness in choices is unacceptable. Everaldo, an absolute starter, has eight goals this season, with one goal against Águia de Marabá, one against Aparecidense, and two against GV San José, low-level/Série D opponents. Meanwhile, Cano, with fewer games, has more than double the goals. John Kennedy remains sidelined. Keno, the Libertadores hero, has become a secondary piece. And the question that lingers: why is Soteldo always the first option? The Venezuelan doesn't create, doesn't decide, doesn't deliver. He cost R$ 44 million, receives a salary above R$ 1 million, and so far, only accumulates failures on the field.

Renato's substitutions are a chapter of their own. Against Lanús, Acosta only came on when the game was already dragging. The team, lacking verticality, seemed content to control possession. The result was predictable, conceding the goal at the last moment.

In press conferences, the speech doesn't change: “we play every three days”, “you are not at the training”, “I know who is better”. But the fans watch the games, and the truth is that Fluminense has no pattern, no evolution, and wastes one of the most expensive squads in the country.

Without Ganso, out for four to six weeks, all the creative responsibility falls on Acosta. But it's impossible to believe in a competitive team when the coach insists on misguided choices and the comfort zone. Renato was hired to turn a millionaire squad into a champion team. So far, he only delivers excuses.

Fluminense cannot get used to embarrassments.

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