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After the serious left knee injury at the end of 2020, Thiago Maia is having his best time in Flamengo, with good performance in the field and sequence in the starting lineup. The improvement in performances had the creation of a “delegation of the Nest” at home and also the participation of the coach Dorival Júnior, with whom he took his first steps in professional football, for Santos.
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Thiago Maia, of Flamengo, during an interview with ge – Photo: Fred Huber
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Absent in the victory over Atletico due to disqualification, he is ready for the duel with San Paolo, this Wednesday, at Morumbi, in the first match of the Copa do Brasil semifinal.
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– When Dorival got to the Flamengohe called me and said: “I need you 15 to 20 days well. When the training is over, go there with Celso (physical trainer) and do something else. The Thiago I know is not who he is. playing now, he is not the Thiago I met at Santos “- said the steering wheel.
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The knee injury marked a turning point in Thiago Maia’s career. After the physical problem, he changed his way of seeing his career and transformed a part of his house into a sort of annex to the Vulture’s Nest, with weight training equipment, physiotherapy and even a small artificial turf field. .
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Every day he works separately with the physiotherapist Márcio Puglia, who is also an employee of the Flamengo. In addition to the body, the player has begun to worry more about the mental part and has the following of a psychologist. The treatment had a positive effect.
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Thiago Maia celebrates the Flamengo ranking in the Copa do Brasil
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Watch the interview with Thiago Maia:
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Ge: In your third season Flamengo, you are having one of the best moments and have achieved a good streak in the starting lineup. How difficult was it to get to this point?
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Thiago Maia: I’m happy. Before the injury he was already in a good sequence, but unfortunately it happened. It was the worst thing in my career. The first, and I hope it doesn’t happen again. I had to readjust and thank God I was able to turn around. Now things are working out. The team is doing well and I am doing well.
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I planted it back there. There was that “can I go back?” Feeling, but then it was fine and I came back fine.
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Thiago Maia has set up a facility at home to do her daily physical therapy work – Photo: Fred Huber
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How does this complementary physical work you do at home work?
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I do the work at the club, and here I congratulate you. I had to readjust, it was a very serious injury. If I have not continued what the Flamengo gives me, it was impossible to develop all I can. This space that I made here at home was very important for my return.
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In your worst moments while recovering from injury, how much would you have liked to have reached a moment like the present one, with a good performance and a streak of wins as a starter?
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When I got to Flamengo, I met a psychologist, who now sees me. I didn’t pay much attention to it, but after my injury I realized how important it was. If mentally the player is not well, he does not flow. He helped me a lot. Several things have happened in my personal and professional life, and thanks to him, mentally, I have improved a lot. He made me grow. It is very difficult to stay at a high level. We are human beings, we all have problems off the pitch. The most important thing I have is my family. When I got hurt, my parents came to my house. He lifted me up.
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What do you think is the main explanation for the success of the Flamengo with the two teams that Dorival has fielded? And for you what importance did the arrival of the coach have to get to this beautiful moment?
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Dorival is used to working with high-level players. He coached Neymar at Santos. He knows how to manage the locker room well, he is a great dad. He fits like a glove Flamengo. I was particularly happy, because it was he who trained me for football, he taught me a lot. When he came to Santos, I started growing too. To the Flamengo the same thing.
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He left the environment very light, he is a guy who knows how to listen, he listens to the opinions of the players when they do not feel comfortable in a position. When he got to Flamengohe called me and said: “I need you 15 to 20 days well. When the training is over, go there with Celso (physical trainer) and do something else. The Thiago I know is not who he is. playing now, he is not the Thiago I met in Santos. ”
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This is what I did. At the end of training I went with Celso and Lucas (assistant). Today I reap what I have sown. Since he already knew me, he knew I was down. Now everything is working, thank God.
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The competition for a spot in midfield increases again with the arrival of Vidal and Pulgar. How do you deal with this dispute to stay in the title?
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I usually say it’s good competition. When I got to Flamengo, he said I would come to add that I would not argue with anyone. Obviously everyone is looking for their space, Vidal, Pulgar, João (Gomes) and Diego. We talk and play a lot every day, but there is a healthy controversy on the pitch. This is good for Dorival, because everyone wants to show service and the individual stands out.
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Due to the disqualification in the match against Athletico, for the Copa do Brasil, he could not be on the pitch at the Arena da Baixada. Is it true that you shook your apartment to celebrate the charts?
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A small notification came lightly, but at least Flamengo everything is fine (laughs). No problem. I’d do more, huh. But I hope to be on the pitch. They sent me a warning email (condominium administration), but no problem, especially since most of the people here are flamenchists. So I’m home. There will surely be more people doing it next time. There were people who even said: “Why didn’t you call me?”. The pool water was very cold, but at the time, with the hot body, with the classification as it was, I didn’t feel much either. Then came the cold, right (laughs). But that’s okay, though Flamengo everything is alright.
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This Wednesday there is already the first match of the semi-final of the Copa do Brasil, against San Paolo. opponent that the Flamengo already won earlier this month for the Brazilian. What can you take from that duel with this now?
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They are different leagues, different teams … Surely the San Paolo will arrive with all its strength and we must respect that. There is a coach who has already been champion here for Flamengo and knows our qualities. We play on tiptoe. Now they will have the support of the fans, but we will also have 40 million cheering for us. So, I hope we can get a good result.
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In view of this great moment of Flamengo Is there any favoritism in the three competitions you compete in?
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Since the Flamengo was founded, enter to fight for the titles. or Flamengo it has this identity of striving for great things. I am happy to participate in this project and we want to continue what started in 2019. All those who face the Flamengo you want to give life. We know it will be very difficult, but we are confident in the search for titles.
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Rogério Ceni knows well the Flamengobut the players Flamengo they also know what the coach likes to practice. What can you bring to the pitch?
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I think he will offer us a difficult match. He has already worked with players who are in Flamengo. That we know how to exploit the possibilities. Let’s see what Dorival offers us and for sure we can get a good result. I hope (Ceni) calms down (laughs), since she knows us a lot.
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Until 2019 you were still just a fan of the Flamengo. What would it mean for you, as a squad member, to repeat the success of that season?
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I was already very happy as a fan. Now then, the passion is still growing. Being able to realize the dream of my family, of my father, who has been playing flamengo since he was little … Flamengo playing, for me it is very rewarding and exciting to defend one of the greatest jerseys in the world. It’s like I said, it’s not just a team, it’s a selection.
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You can make a mental picture of what will happen in your city (Boa Vista) and in your state (Roraima) if the Flamengo win the Libertadores title, the Copa do Brasil …?
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97% are flamenco. So, being champion, God willing, it’s going to be a lot of fun. Then I dive into the pool, dive into the sea, even if it’s 2 or 3 degrees, I don’t care. Fur Flamengo everything is alright. For the title, everything is fine.
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