Renato Gaúcho's statement, after Fluminense's qualification

Fluminense 's run in the Copa do Brasil continues. On Wednesday (August 6), the team secured a spot in the quarterfinals with a 1-1 draw against Internacional, a result that solidified their qualification after a lead in the first leg. Despite the underwhelming technical performance, the players' dedication was highlighted as a decisive factor in their advancement in the tournament.

The result at Maracanã, despite being built amid mistakes and many misplaced passes, was enough to secure the night's objective. Tricolor manager Renato Gaúcho had reservations about the performance but praised the players' attitude on the field.

Renato Gaucho, coach of Fluminense (Photo: Marcelo Gonçalves/Fluminense)

"I can say that, technically, it wasn't a great game. There were a lot of misplaced passes from both teams. But I have to highlight my team's dedication. We talked about it yesterday on video and in the pre-match interview. Their attitude was beautiful to see."

Continuing in the Copa do Brasil comes amid a demanding schedule. Fluminense is competing simultaneously in the Brazilian Championship and the Copa Libertadores, in addition to having faced the Club World Cup mid-year. Thus, the topic of reinforcements is once again a recurring topic in Renato's interviews. The coach admitted that the club remains attentive to the market, but expressed caution in its demands.

"The more options the coach has, the better. But honestly, I was never upset. Many people said they were upset. No, not at all. I talk to the president every day, I understand the financial side of the club. I understand that often you get the money but don't have the player."

Furthermore, the coach warned about the importance of accurate decisions at this stage of the season. According to him, there's an internal awareness that any mistake in the selection of reinforcements could compromise the balance of the squad, especially given the mid-year transfer window, which closes on September 2nd.

"I've already told him that we can't make any mistakes in hiring now, precisely because of this. And we have until September 2nd if something happens and we have to go to the market."

While the board works behind the scenes to strengthen the squad, Renato reiterated his confidence in the current group. He emphasized that the players' commitment must be maintained at a high level, especially in decisive matches.

"The only thing I demand is the response on the field. The commitment they had today against Internacional, they had against Grêmio . The commitment and concentration we didn't have in the three or four games we lost, it wasn't the same concentration as at the World Cup."

Fluminense's next challenge will be in the Brazilian Championship. On Saturday (August 9), the team visits Bahia, at Arena Fonte Nova, at 9 pm (Brasília time), looking to regain regularity in the national competition.