Football Season Guide

Mengão had a poor league season in 2022. Not only they were soon ruled out from the title race, they didn't even manage to finish in the top 4, at the end. Paulo Sousa was a fiasco and was quickly sacked. Dorival Junior improved the team's performance, but not enough to get close to the best teams of last season. However, they highly compensated the unsuccessful domestic season with Ameirca's biggest trophy: Copa Libertadores. It was their second title in the last 4 years in the competition. This has been a terrible year for Flamengo. They lost the final of Carioca with an humiliating defeat to their rivals Fluminense (with a much lower budget). Libertadores started very badly as well, with Flamengo losing to the very modest Aucas in the first round. As a result of such a poor start, Flamengo sacked the Portuguese Vítor Pereira before the start of Série A. Pereira was brought in to replicate Jorge Jesus' achievements, after leaving the rivals Corinthians in a controversial way, but the new coach was never able to implement his ideas. Flamengo looks a bit weaker than last season, as they lost the excellent João Gomes and Willian Arão in midfield and only brought back Gerson. The former Marseille midfielder was excellent two years ago with the Rubronegro jersey, but he hasn't been any good since then, including his return to Flamengo, so far. Despite the poor mood in 2023, so far, and two consecutive years without winning Série A, Flamengo is still the richest squad in the country. From the goal till the striker, there are two strong options for each position and still many players that are usually called up to their respective national teams. Motivating this group to play as a true team looks a very difficult task after they have won so many things, recently. Some key players have been presenting physical problems: Bruno Henrique is just returning from almost a year out; Arrascaeta has been missing a few important fixtures. The Uruguayan playmaker Arrascaeta in midfield is perhaps the most difficult player to replace on the squad. Gabigol is the most dangerous striker and Pedro the most lethal.