Rossi previews Flamengo vs Bayern: 'Big game to show our strength'

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ORLANDO (USA) - O Flamengo It has full focus for the match against Munich Bayern , in the round of sixteen of the FIFA Club World Cup . The ball rolls at 5 PM, this Sunday (29th), at the Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami. During the preparation for the match, the goalkeeper Rossi participated in an interview with the Flamengo TV and talked about zero error in the decision against the Germans.

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- The quality of players in Europe makes a small difference, but we know this is a zero-error game. Every game we play at Flamengo is zero-error, that's the truth. In these knockout games, it's even more important to have this mindset. We know the importance of playing a complete game, mentally. We cannot be lost on the field at any moment, because that makes the difference against European teams. If we make half an error, we can suffer. We need to stay calm and we have a big game to show our strength as a team - he emphasized.

Questioned about the team's preparation, Rossi emphasized that it is necessary to maintain what has been done in this World Cup. The Argentine goalkeeper reinforced that the victory against Chelsea, in the group stage, boosts the players' morale.

- The preparation has to be the same. We know it's an important game against a very difficult rival, but we have our weapons. We played a great game against Chelsea, I think that makes a difference for us players when facing European teams, as in this current confrontation. It's 90 minutes, extra time, and penalties, but no one wants to go to penalties (laughs) - said Rossi.

The idol Diego Alves The former goalkeeper has also participated in the interview. He is living on the other side of the coin and has been covering Flamengo at this World Cup as a reporter for <CazedTV> . During his participation, Diego praised Rossi's current form and assessed that the Argentine is the perfect goalkeeper for the club.

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- Rossi is the perfect goalkeeper for Flamengo. He is living a moment, in my opinion, where he is not only the most consistent goalkeeper, but he is also in a state of concentration and calmness that he conveys to the players. The goalkeeper has a special role on the field, which is to be a thermometer, but the opposite of the team. When they are cold, you need to be the hot one, who talks, and when the team is too hot, you need to be calm. I see Rossi controlling the game temperature very well, in addition to being an excellent goalkeeper in front of the goal. He is fundamental for Filipe because he conveys calmness in all areas that a goalkeeper needs to have on the field - commented Diego Alves.

Check out other excerpts from the Rossi and Diego Alves interview.

Rossi

Peace during the matches

- As a goalkeeper, we need to stay calm. If the team sees that we are nervous, it makes a difference. This experience is very important for us, to pass tranquility to the team during the game.

Dear club member

- The truth is that when the goalkeeper feels important to the team, to the club, and to the fans, many things change in day-to-day life. You end up entering each game more motivated because you know that your work is being rewarded in some way. I think coming from Boca also helped me a lot to overcome the pressure of being the goalkeeper of Flamengo and made me reach a good moment in my career. It's very important for me to feel loved here at the club.

Diego Alves

Career as a commentator

- I am very surprised, first by the way I have been approaching this situation. I am going through a career transition phase, having left football not long ago, but I was already preparing for this transition, which is not easy. It's very complicated at the beginning, even in relation to the time we always left it up to the club to manage, organizing the schedule, and when you step away from that, you gain control of your own time. Then you end up getting a bit lost until you create a new routine. I am really enjoying this new phase of my life, I have more time with my family and can experience a profession I did for so many years from this other perspective, and it is being very special.

Meeting with Guardiola in the United States

- I suffered a lot against Guardiola's teams in Spain for 10 years (laughs). I saw practically Guardiola rise through the youth categories, that year he went to Barcelona, and it was when Messi became a starter. I ended up meeting him here in Orlando, at a press conference, and asked to take a photo. When we met, I thought, "will he remember me?" and when he saw me, he said, "Diego, how are you?", then I got even more nervous. I was alone, we talked for about 5 minutes, he asked how I was doing, about my future, whether I would continue in football or not. So, for me, it was a very big surprise, but this is important, football creates this friendship. Guardiola treated me super well and I was very happy with the recognition.

Manuel Neuer

- He is a legend, a goalkeeper who symbolizes the transition, playing advanced, playing with his feet, doing this for many years. Neuer is one of those I place at the top shelf of the world's best goalkeepers. He is a World Champion, a UEFA Champions League winner, and he revolutionized the way goalkeepers play. Actually, it was Guardiola who did this, breaking through with goalkeepers by doing so (laughs). But Neuer is a legend within his position.