Léo Pereira sends Fluminense message after derby: “very grateful” | OneFootball

Flamengo beat Fluminense 2-1 in the 11th round of the Brasileirão

Flamengo and Fluminense put on a high-level match this Sunday (12). For Léo Pereira, the Rubro-Negro win in the 11th round of the Brazilian league was only possible thanks to the postponement. That’s because the match at the Maracanã had originally been scheduled for Saturday (11).

— For us players, from Flamengo and Fluminense, it was important because we had that flight delay. As I said a moment ago, we’re very grateful that Fluminense accepted this request -, said the center back, who added:

— It’s important even for the spectacle. First and foremost, we have to look at the human side, because athletes need rest. We know how the Brazilian Championship and the domestic calendar are brutal on athletes. So, if clubs are conscious of that, the players will be too -, he said in the mixed zone.

What is the context behind Léo Pereira’s comments?

Flamengo left Cusco, Peru, and arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday night (09). Therefore, the Most Beloved would have had only a day and a half to recover from the Libertadores match and train for the derby on Saturday (11).

Therefore, Fla consulted Fluminense about the possibility of postponing the clash at the Maracanã. The club from Laranjeiras understood that it would also benefit from the rescheduling. So, the necessary authorities gave the green light for the match to take place this Sunday (12).

But where is the controversy in Fla-Flu?

Even though the opponent agreed, part of the fanbase and some players disapproved of the decision. That’s because those against it believe the rival was helping the Rubro-Negro and could have caught them unprepared if the Saturday (11) match had been kept.

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