Upon entering the field this Wednesday, at 7:15 pm, at Mané Garrincha Stadium, in Brasília, in the second game of the quarterfinals, against Olimpia, Flamengo will try to consolidate an unprecedented brand in the Libertadores. The rubro-negro never went through the two knockout stages of the South American competition with such ease, represented by sound routs, as in the current edition.
In 1991, in the round of 16, Flamengo even had the peace of mind to make it 5-0 at Deportivo Táchira, from Venezuela, in the match at Maracanã. However, in the first leg, away from home, the triumph was 3-2. In 2008, the most expressive advantage came with a bitter aftertaste. The red-black beat América, in Mexico, by 4-2, but lost 3-0, at home, and ended up being eliminated.
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photo-gallery-teaser__figure gallery-figure article__picture article__picture--horizontal">photo-gallery-teaser__figcaption gallery-caption article__picture-caption">Renato Gaúcho makes the “V” for victory in his car after training at Botafogo Photo: Arquivo O Globo / Agência O Globo – 05/12/1992photo-gallery-teaser gallery-teaser gallery-teaser--horizontal carousel__item" id="posicaoFoto2">
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photo-gallery-teaser__figcaption gallery-caption article__picture-caption">Striker Renato Portaluppi plays Santa Cruz defender, in a match valid for the 1987 Union Cup. Score: Flamengo 3 X 1 Santa Cruz Photo: Hipólito Pereira / Agência O Globo – 11/22/1987photo-gallery-teaser gallery-teaser gallery-teaser--vertical carousel__item" id="posicaoFoto3">
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photo-gallery-teaser__figcaption gallery-caption article__picture-caption">Renato Gaúcho arrives smiling for Flamengo training Photo: Hipólito Pereira / Agência O Globo – 07/28/87photo-gallery-teaser gallery-teaser gallery-teaser--horizontal carousel__item" id="posicaoFoto4">
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photo-gallery-teaser__figcaption gallery-caption article__picture-caption">Renato Gaúcho during Flamengo training in 1988 Photo: Otávio Magalhães / Agência O Globo – 03/03/1988photo-gallery-teaser gallery-teaser gallery-teaser--horizontal carousel__item" id="posicaoFoto5">
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photo-gallery-teaser__figcaption gallery-caption article__picture-caption">Renato Gaúcho celebrates with goalkeeper Welerson the state title he won over Flamengo with the legendary belly goal Photo: Archive / Agência O Globo – 06/25/1995photo-gallery-teaser gallery-teaser gallery-teaser--horizontal carousel__item" id="posicaoFoto6">
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photo-gallery-teaser__figcaption gallery-caption article__picture-caption">Renato Gaúcho delivers Fluminense shirt to presenter Xuxa Photo: Arquivo O Globo / Agência O Globo – 23/09/1996photo-gallery-teaser gallery-teaser gallery-teaser--horizontal carousel__item" id="posicaoFoto7">
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photo-gallery-teaser__figcaption gallery-caption article__picture-caption">Renato Gaúcho dominates the ball during the 1997 Brasileirão match Photo: Hipólito Pereira / Agência O Globo – 09/20/1997photo-gallery-teaser gallery-teaser gallery-teaser--vertical carousel__item" id="posicaoFoto8">
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photo-gallery-teaser__figcaption gallery-caption article__picture-caption">Renato Gaúcho led Bangu in 1999 Photo: Pércio Campos / Agência O Globo – 03/03/1999photo-gallery-teaser gallery-teaser gallery-teaser--vertical carousel__item" id="posicaoFoto9">
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photo-gallery-teaser__figcaption gallery-caption article__picture-caption">Renato Gaúcho poses with the ball before Madureira’s training Photo: Hipólito Pereira / Agência O Globo – 01/26/2001photo-gallery-teaser gallery-teaser gallery-teaser--horizontal carousel__item" id="posicaoFoto10">
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photo-gallery-teaser__figcaption gallery-caption article__picture-caption">Renato Gaúcho talks with player Beto during Flu training Photo: Hipólito Pereira / Agência O Globo – 09/09/2002photo-gallery-teaser gallery-teaser gallery-teaser--vertical carousel__item" id="posicaoFoto11">
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photo-gallery-teaser__figcaption gallery-caption article__picture-caption">Renato Gaúcho on Ipanema beach Photo: Guilherme Pinto / Agência O Globo – 03/17/2003photo-gallery-teaser gallery-teaser gallery-teaser--horizontal carousel__item" id="posicaoFoto12">
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photo-gallery-teaser__figcaption gallery-caption article__picture-caption">Romário talks with Renato during Vasco training Photo: Fernando Maia / Agência O Globo – 03/14/2006photo-gallery-teaser gallery-teaser gallery-teaser--horizontal carousel__item" id="posicaoFoto13">
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photo-gallery-teaser__figcaption gallery-caption article__picture-caption">Renato Gaúcho guides Edmundo, Leandro Amaral and Eduardo Luiz during Vasco’s training in São Januário Photo: Ivo Gonzalez / Agência O Globo – 26/09/2008photo-gallery-teaser gallery-teaser gallery-teaser--horizontal carousel__item" id="posicaoFoto14">
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photo-gallery-teaser__figcaption gallery-caption article__picture-caption">Fluminense training in Laranjeiras under the command of coach Renato Gaúcho Photo: Jorge William / Agência O Globo – 06/01/2007photo-gallery-teaser gallery-teaser gallery-teaser--horizontal carousel__item" id="posicaoFoto15">
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photo-gallery-teaser__figcaption gallery-caption article__picture-caption">Renato Gaúcho had Valdir Espinosa as a technical assistant at Fluminense Photo: Jorge William / Agência O Globo – 08/04/2009photo-gallery-teaser gallery-teaser gallery-teaser--vertical carousel__item" id="posicaoFoto16">
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photo-gallery-teaser__figcaption gallery-caption article__picture-caption">Renato Gaúcho on vacation in Rio in 2017 Photo: Marluci Martins / Agência O Globophoto-gallery-teaser gallery-teaser gallery-teaser--horizontal carousel__item" id="posicaoFoto17">
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photo-gallery-teaser__figcaption gallery-caption article__picture-caption">Renato Gaúcho played the 4×4 Footvolley Mundialito, in 2013, held in Copacabana Photo: Publicityphoto-gallery-teaser gallery-teaser gallery-teaser--horizontal carousel__item" id="posicaoFoto18">
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photo-gallery-teaser__figcaption gallery-caption article__picture-caption">Renato Gaúcho played the 4×4 Footvolley Mundialito, in 2013, held in Copacabana Photo: Arquivo O Globo – 03/08/2013photo-gallery-teaser gallery-teaser gallery-teaser--horizontal carousel__item" id="posicaoFoto19">
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photo-gallery-teaser__figcaption gallery-caption article__picture-caption">Renato Gaúcho visits Grêmio Arena after being announced as the team’s coach for the 2013 season Photo: LUCAS UEBEL / Agência O Globo – 07/25/2013photo-gallery-teaser gallery-teaser gallery-teaser--horizontal carousel__item" id="posicaoFoto20">
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photo-gallery-teaser__figcaption gallery-caption article__picture-caption">Renato Gaúcho’s first title as Grêmio coach was the Brazil Cup won over Atlético-MG, in 2016. The tricolor sold the Minas Gerais team for 4 x 2 in the accumulated scoreboard. The final game, at the opponent’s home, ended in a draw 1-1 Photo: Lucas Uebel / Lucas Uebel/Gremio FBPAphoto-gallery-teaser gallery-teaser gallery-teaser--horizontal carousel__item" id="posicaoFoto21">
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photo-gallery-teaser__figcaption gallery-caption article__picture-caption">Renato Gaúcho is erected by his team after winning the 2017 Libertadores. He was subsequently world runner-up and champion of the Recopa Photo: EITAN ABRAMOVICH / AFPphoto-gallery-teaser gallery-teaser gallery-teaser--horizontal carousel__item" id="posicaoFoto22">
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photo-gallery-teaser__figcaption gallery-caption article__picture-caption">Renato carries the 2018 Recopa trophy, won on penalties: 5 x 4, after a 1 x 1 accumulated score over Argentina’s Independiente Photo: Lucas Uebel / Lucas Uebel/Gremio FBPAphoto-gallery-teaser gallery-teaser gallery-teaser--horizontal carousel__item" id="posicaoFoto23">
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photo-gallery-teaser__figcaption gallery-caption article__picture-caption">With a 6-0 rout over Avenida, Renato Gaúcho won the Recopa Gaúcha in 2019 Photo: Max Peixoto / DiaEsportivoThe first tri state title came out in 2018, after winning the Recopa Photo: Lucas Uebel / Lucas Uebel/Gremio FBPARenato raises the Gaucho Cup in 2019 Photo: Lucas Uebel / Lucas Uebel/Gremio FBPAWith a medal on his chest and next to the trophy, former coach Renato Gaúcho commemorates his third-time championship, won in 2020 Photo: Lucas Uebel / Lucas Uebel/Gremio FBPA
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Not because of this score that Olimpia changes the scenario of the quarterfinals. With Flamengo’s 4-1 victory in Paraguay, the rubro-negro will only be eliminated if they are overcome by 4 to 0 or three goals difference, but from 5 to 2. Previously, by the round of 16, the team already under the Renato Gaúcho’s command dispatched Argentina’s Defensa y Justicia, 1-0 away from home, and 4-1, at Mané Garrincha.
Team doesn’t take its foot and rotates more
In the knockout of the current edition, the new coach’s good relationship with the club’s technical committee comes into play, which gained more importance in the work of Renato Gaúcho. It allows Flamengo to dose its squad more and maintain the offensive momentum for most of the 90 minutes. The work involves a lot of Renato’s motivating profile, who doesn’t let the athletes take their foot off. With tactical adjustments that gave more freedom to attacking players, the result is a team that seeks movement and makes the game more dynamic, but running smoothly. Which causes even less wear.
Behind the field and ball, the medical department analyzes the level of fatigue of athletes before, during and after matches, and has stepped in to remove worn-out players, especially when the scoreboard is well built. It became common for Renato to move wholesale, taking almost half the team, and renewing the energies without Flamengo backing down. The strategy has also served to maintain the high confidence of athletes considered reserves.
The Department of Health and High Performance (Desar) understands that, since Renato did not bring a trainer, it shows that he has already come equipped with information and trusting in the work done at the club. When he arrived at Flamengo, the technician demonstrated that he already knew a little about how the methodologies worked. This helped in the quick understanding of the day-to-day life of the football performance area.
Assistant Alexandre Mendes, although a physical trainer by training, does not interfere in physical and medical issues directly. The focus is on technical and mainly tactical parts with the coach. The rest is handled directly between Renato and Dr. Márcio Tannure. The coach listens a lot to the footballhealth and high performance manager.
Direct communication helps. With Jorge Jesus, the same thing happened. Despite a large commission, the Portuguese dialogued well. In addition, preparer Mário Monteiro bought the Desar idea and was aligned in all processes. The same happened at the time of Rogério Ceni, and Danilo Augusto, physical trainer. With Dome, on the other hand, communication between committees did not flow, as its assistants did not understand the processes very well and did not pass information in the most correct way to the technician.
Renato acts as a facilitator
Due to his experience as a coach and player, Renato knows that athletes need to be well to produce the best. In the case of the moment, Isla was spared despite the Flamengo doctor saying that the player is clinically well, but with muscle fatigue. With this, it was agreed that the athlete would do a specific work program in order to maintain the intense training pace, as if he were playing, and strengthen whatever he needs.
At first, Renato’s idea was to bring Isla to Brasília and not put it to play. Tannure said it would be worse for the athlete to travel and not play, that he would “waste time” and “untrain”. Renato understood, the player stayed in Rio and started the activities, under the command of Roberto Oliveira and Rafael Winick, the club’s physical trainers. If I had traveled, I would have stayed at the hotel all day. But now he will go to CT to proceed with the planning, which includes staying out of Sunday’s commitment as well, to be able to recover and be whole and available on Wednesday, against Grêmio.
The exchange has been so interesting, and the coach has understood so well the importance of the controls made by the club, that he has already started to “charge”. When Thiago Maia and Gustavo Henrique tested positive for Covid-19, Renato asked that a program be made for each one, as he feared they would be idle for a long time. The medical department sent equipment to the athletes’ homes and prepared a training sheet, which is managed online by Rafael Winick.
