Flamengo consider resting De la Cruz for Cusco trip over altitude concerns | OneFootball

Flamengo are weighing up resting De la Cruz for Wednesday’s Libertadores opener against Cusco in Peru, due to concerns over altitude.

According to Globo.com, the coaching and medical staff will assess his case and make a decision on Tuesday, when the squad travel. Cusco is 3,350 metres above sea level, and the likelihood is that the Uruguayan will be rested.

The midfielder does not have a condition that prevents him from playing at altitude, but he has previously felt unwell in such environments. Last year he was withdrawn from Uruguay’s squad before facing Bolivia in El Alto, at 4,090 metres, and he did not travel with Flamengo to Quito to play LDU.

De la Cruz came on at 40 minutes in Sunday’s win over Santos and helped create the third goal, finished by Lucas Paquetá.

Flamengo already have four absentees for the 21:30 kick-off, Brasília time. Left-back Alex Sandro, midfielders Pulgar and Saúl, and forward Everton Cebolinha are in the medical department. The team are due to arrive in Cusco on Tuesday night.

Source: Globo.com