Author: Vishwajit Sawant
In a surprising turnaround, Botafogo
Botafogo secured a 2-0 victory over Fluminense
at the iconic Maracanã stadium, marking their first win under Lúcio Flávio after the dismissal of former coach Bruno Lage. This victory not only rejuvenated the team’s spirit, but also signaled a return to their characteristic style, which had defined their leadership in the Brazilian Championship.
Left-back Marçal, who is also the team captain, was quick to praise the squad’s performance, emphasizing the familiarity and comfort they felt when returning to the established style of play. Marçal said: “It’s good that we managed to get loose on the pitch. Nothing has changed. That’s the truth. We went back to doing what we were doing. Our team was already well managed. Lage arrived and tried to make some changes that he felt were important. The group tried to react, but we already had a DNA“.
The win was a much-needed breakthrough for Botafogo, who had been struggling to score in recent games. Marçal expressed relief at the change in direction, attributing it to a return to basics in his approach, saying: “Fortunately, this change had to happen. Lúcio Flávio already knew us, Carli too. He simply went back to making rice and beans. Simple works“.
What makes this victory even more intriguing is the role played by the players themselves in reshaping the club’s direction in the league. After the draw with Goiás, the team leaders had an important meeting with John Textor, during which they expressed their concerns that Bruno Lage’s playing strategy was not aligned with the team’s strengths.
It was this conversation that led Textor to take the decision to separate from Lage. The players also took the initiative to ask for Argentine defender Joel Carli to join the coaching staff, who previously held a management position in the club’s academy.
Marçal explained the reason behind the request, saying: “It was our request. He knows the group well, he’s also the captain. He has something different from Lúcio, more serene. He’s tougher, more disciplinarian. The two complement each other well. That’s why, when we were asked about having Carli with us, it was unanimous.“
For the future, Lúcio Flávio will have ten days to work with the team before returning to action during the FIFA date break. Botafogo will face América-MG, bottom of the league, in Belo Horizonte on the 18th, in a match that promises to be key to their resurgence in the Brazilian Championship.