Author: Barkha Roy
Fluminense striker Germán Cano faced a goal drought when his side were beaten 2-0 by Botafogo at the iconic Maracanã Stadium in the Serie A Brazilian Championship last Sunday. After this disappointing defeat, Cano openly admitted his team’s shortcomings, particularly emphasizing the difficulties in the first half of the match.
“In the first half, I think we left too much space. Our defensive marking was below average. But that’s no cause for alarm; we have to keep working hard” said Cano in his post-match remarks.
Botafogo managed to hit the back of the net twice, with goals in the 19th and 22nd minutes. In response to these early setbacks, Fluminense coach Fernando Diniz made tactical substitutions with the aim of strengthening his defensive solidity. However, despite these efforts, the squad was unable to overturn the unfavorable scoreline.
Remarkably, despite the unfavorable result, the match was marked by fervent celebrations among the Fluminense fans. Even after the final whistle, the fans continued to sing and dance in the stands at the Maracanã, basking in the glory of their team’s recent qualification for the Libertadores final. This was the fans’ first big meeting with the team since the memorable victory over Internacional last Wednesday.
Germán Cano, the talented Argentine striker, expressed his sincere gratitude for the unwavering support of the fans and gave an idea of the team’s aspirations as they approach the Libertadores final.
“The fans came out in force to support us, and their presence was immensely valuable. This support is particularly significant as we have already secured our place in the Libertadores final and our ambition is to establish ourselves as the most important force in South American soccer” said Cano passionately.
Fluminense will not play again until October 19, when they face Corinthians. His eyes are set on the coveted Libertadores final against Boca Juniors, which is scheduled for November 4.
The defeat against Botafogo exposed some defensive vulnerabilities in Fluminense’s performance. Cano’s frank admission of the team’s defensive lapses in the first half serves as a warning to improve this critical aspect of the game. Backed by a passionate and unwavering fan base, Fluminense are looking to regain their momentum as they prepare for the long-awaited final Libertadores clash against Boca Juniors.