Filipe Luís close to Libertadores glory as manager | OneFootball

Twice a champion of the Copa Libertadores as a player, Filipe Luís is back in the tournament final, this time as a coach, after Flamengo qualified for the decision on November 29, in Lima.

By eliminating Racing in the semifinal, the Rubro-Negro reaches its fifth final of the continent's main club tournament, four with Filipe Luís present (three of them as a player).

“I am very proud of my players,” said the 40-year-old coach in the press conference after the qualification over the Argentine team.

“It was a victory of a team with soul, a competitive, fierce team that knows how to play under all circumstances, against any opponent,” celebrated the Rubro-Negro commander.

The 0-0 draw away from home sealed Flamengo's spot in the Libertadores final, after a 1-0 victory in the first leg at Maracanã, a week earlier.

The opponent in the decision will be determined this Thursday, in the match between Palmeiras and LDU, in São Paulo. In the first leg, playing at the altitude of Quito, the Ecuadorian team won 3-0.

Multi-champions

Filipe Luís took over Flamengo in September last year, replacing Tite, just nine months after hanging up his boots with the club's jersey. Under his command, besides returning to the Libertadores final, the Rubro-Negro is fighting for the leadership of the Brazilian Championship with Palmeiras.

The young coach has already won the Copa do Brasil in 2024, the Supercopa do Brasil, and the Campeonato Carioca this year.

Many players in the current Flamengo squad were teammates of Filipe Luís on the field. The Uruguayan Giorgian de Arrascaeta and forward Bruno Henrique, like Filipe, are heading to their fourth Libertadores final with the club.

“A team that knows what it wants and with players who are multi-champions. They are the most ambitious players. And my group is full. It's packed with multi-champion players,” said the coach after the battle against Racing in Avellaneda.

“I alone did nothing. But I was part of this process,” added Filipe, a declared disciple of the Portuguese Jorge Jesus, who managed him at Flamengo, and the Argentine Diego Simeone, who was his commander at Atlético de Madrid.

One of the squad leaders, Bruno Henrique praised Flamengo's ability to overcome difficulties against Racing, with goalkeeper Rossi as the hero of the night.

“We played when we had to play, we defended when we had to defend. Flamengo is that, race, love, and passion,” declared the 34-year-old forward.

Record in Decisions

Flamengo has won three of the four Libertadores finals it has contested. It beat Cobreloa from Chile in 1981, River Plate in 2019, and Athletico-PR in 2022. On the other hand, it was defeated by Palmeiras in 2021. Now, the goal is to become the first Brazilian club to win the competition four times.

Will Pedro return for the final?

Regardless of the opponent in the decision, Filipe Luís already has a serious concern with the injury of forward Pedro. A fracture in his right forearm took the number 9 out of the second leg of the semifinal, and he is still doubtful for the final.

Additionally, one of his substitutes, the Ecuadorian Gonzalo Plata, will have to serve a suspension in the game for being sent off against Racing.

“There's a long way to go until then, but we will enjoy this moment a lot,” said Filipe Luís.

In any case, there is not much room for celebrations. Next Saturday, Flamengo will face the bottom-placed Sport in the Brasileirão. With nine games left in the championship, the Carioca team is just one point behind Palmeiras, the current leader.

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