Gabigol says he has no dimension of his history at Flamengo and comments on his connection with Libertadores: “We agree” | Flamengo

“I go in the same way. I’m ready. I’ve always been ready.”

This is how Gabigol ended his interview with ge at the end of February about the Libertadores, tournament which he won twice with Flamengo and in which he became the Brazilian with the most goals in history (31).

Hero in two Libertadores, Gabigol comments on his relationship with the tournament: “We agree”

Suspended for attempted fraud in an anti-doping test, he was left out of the first three rounds. Now released after a suspension effect at CAS, the number 10 will be available in the tournament for the first time this Tuesday, against Palestino, at 9pm, in Coquimbo.

As fate would have it, Gabigol started his sixth Libertadores with Flamengo in Chile, the country where he scored the most goals in the competition (4) – with the exception of Brazil. The status, however, is very different from other years with the red and black shirt. The striker was already coach Tite’s reserve even before the suspension – there were only two games as a starter with the coach since October.

Gabigol returned to the field for around 35 minutes in the game against Amazonas. It was not used against Bragantino. It will be listed this Tuesday, but the use still follows the planning of the technical committee. In good physical shape, the attacker seeks to regain his game rhythm. For now, he remains able to spend just over 30 minutes on the field.

The Libertadores reappears in Gabigol’s path at a time when the player is accumulating records – he is the club’s top scorer (30 goals) and the Brazilian who scored the most in the competition (31 goals). The striker scored goals in three finals (2019, 2021 and 2022) and was champion twice (2019 and 2022) with Flamengo.

– Of course (the Libertadores generates fascination). It is the most important competition. It is clear that the Brazilian Championship has a huge competition between several teams. But the Libertadores is every player’s dream. I think we match. It’s difficult to say (which image defines the relationship with the competition). I have wonderful Libertadores nights. It starts at Maracanã, always full at 9:30 pm. Maracanã is very beautiful, even the path is different. Libertadores Night is always very special.

– That’s the way I am. I’m a competitor and I can’t stay without competing. Whether in training, in the game, at home. I want to win. It’s the most important (competition), it’s the one that marks the club’s history. I’ve already won two. I want to be able to win three more, four more. Each one will be different. I went to three finals. Losing one was very painful, but I was able to come back and win again. 2019 was something incredible. I hope to reach the finals and win, which is the most important thing – he concluded.

The relationship with Libertadores was consolidated as a Flamengo player, but the first memory of the competition is old, and the affection for it also goes back a long way. He started when he was still a small Santos fan enchanted by Neymar and who watched the entire 2011 campaign in the stands at Vila Belmiro. And it was as a Santos player that he scored his first goal in the competition: against Estudiantes, in 2018.

– As a fan (my first memory). Everyone knows I’m a Santos fan. I went to the stadium to see Santos play for the Libertadores. There’s Santos winning at Pacaembu with a goal from Neymar. I followed all the games and, in Vila Belmiro, I always went to the stadium – reported Flamengo’s number 10.

Gabigol doesn’t think about the size he has at Fla: “It will happen when I retire”

Gabigol’s story with Libertadores has important chapters. The most memorable of these is the final in which he scored two goals in three minutes and ended Flamengo’s 38-year drought against River Plate. On that occasion, the striker was the top scorer with nine goals – a feat he repeated in 2021, with 11.

– I do not think about it. I think about the next training session. And I don’t say that to be a liar. I think what will happen is that when I leave Flamengo or when I retire, I will be able to look back and try to have this dimension. I’m not one to watch games that have already passed. I still haven’t stopped to watch several games that took place at Flamengo: the final in Lima, the one in Guayaquil, the Copa do Brasil. I have cuts from the game that I experienced on the field. I think that when I stop or when I leave, I will be able to look back and see what I have already done.

Goal by Gabigol, from Flamengo, against Racing

After the game against Racing, Gabigol only scored once more in the competition: in the draw against Ñublense, in Chile. Now, the striker returns to the country to kick off what could be his last Libertadores with Flamengo. The number 10’s contract ends at the end of the year. After an agreement reached at the end of 2023, the parties have not yet resumed talks.

Grow in moments of decision. Why does it happen?

– That’s where I feel most at peace, actually. When there’s pressure, when it’s a decisive game that can take you forward and eliminate your opponent, when there’s a big game, that’s where I feel calmer and more prepared.

Of the 31 goals, which is your favorite?

– It is difficult. The Libertadores has a very important meaning. There are two from Lima, which happened in three minutes. There was the last one in Guayaquil, which is still important. I became the Brazilian with the most goals in the Libertadores. It’s 5-0 against Grêmio at Maracanã, I scored two. These are nights that are marked. My first goal in the Libertadores for Flamengo was at altitude, a very complicated game. If I had to choose one, the second from Lima. Oh, there’s no way to choose, the first one in Lima was very important. We won 1-0 in Guayaquil with a goal from me. There’s no way to choose. All goals are very important.

Celebrating alone in Lima

– I’m very cold. When we scored both goals, I just wanted to be in my corner and relax, be with my friends. They even went after me. But I sent them away. I was able to be alone. In Guayaquil it was the same thing. I’m very cold, that’s the truth. I hadn’t cried in a long time. The ones who made me cry were Filipe Luís and Rodrigo Caio. I always have to think about next time. The truth is this. When we won and when we lost, I was thinking about the next time. I’m looking forward to beating her again.

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