Flamengo player still dreams big, sends message to Palmeiras | OneFootball

Léo Ortiz, of Flamengo, still holds on to his desire to go to the World Cup

The Brazil national team squad for the World Cup will be announced next Monday (18). Some Flamengo players will be called up, but one ‘long shot’ is still keeping hope alive: Léo Ortiz. One of Flamengo’s standout performers against Grêmio, the center back said he still hopes to make Carlo Ancelotti’s list, even knowing it will be difficult.

— Of course we dream. Being at Flamengo and having already been part of the national team group, you always have that expectation, but I’m very level-headed about it. I’m very calm about that, I know the result will come from what I do here. What I do on the pitch will take me to the national team —, began Léo Ortiz.

— I have to stay focused on Flamengo, on improving and staying at a high level. It’s the biggest competition in the world, and if the opportunity comes, I have to be at my very best to represent the Brazilian national team shirt —, said the defender.

Léo Ortiz played a decisive role in Flamengo’s win over Grêmio. The center back delivered a beautiful long pass to Emerson Royal, who then assisted Jorge Carrascal for the goal. With the result, Mengão cut the gap to Brasileirão leaders Palmeiras.

WHAT DID LÉO ORTIZ SAY ABOUT PALMEIRAS?

After the results of the 15th round, Flamengo are four points behind Palmeiras, with one game in hand. The São Paulo side could only draw with Remo in Belém. Asked about the battle with Abel Ferreira’s team, Léo Ortiz said he thinks it is too early to ‘focus’ on the opponent’s results.

— A great round for us. We were left with a strange feeling in the previous match because we let the draw happen at the end and missed the chance to move closer to Palmeiras, but now we were happy to get the win and they drew —, commented Léo Ortiz.

— I think it’s far too early to be thinking about their results. We have to focus on ours, on winning every game at home or away. Happy with this win here — it’s a difficult place to play, and I’m sure many teams will drop points here —, he concluded.

WHEN IS FLAMENGO’S NEXT MATCH?

Flamengo will look for another win in the Brasileirão on Sunday (17), against Athletico-PR, in Curitiba. Before that, however, the Rubro-Negro side travel to Salvador to face Vitória in the fifth round of the Copa do Brasil. Kickoff is at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) at Barradão.

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