Covid, volcanic and hotel “invasion”: the backstage of Flamengo until the victory in Guayaquil | Flamengo

Flamengo traveled to Guayaquil on Thursday night, stunned by the defeat of Del Valle, and did not have a single day of peace. The height of the confusion occurred on Tuesday afternoon, hours before the game, when a battalion of Ecuadorians invaded the hotel where the delegation was staying in an episode that put the confrontation at risk.

Chronologically, the problems started on Friday. Amid the lawsuits and debates about Domènec Torrent’s situation and the terrible performance in Quito, Gabigol complained of muscle pain in his thigh and was subjected to tests. The result indicated the injury suffered by the fighting striker.

On Saturday the Covid-19 exams were carried out for the game against Barcelona, ​​and on Sunday the bad news took away the peace of the rojinegros. First, eight positive cases: Isla, Matheuzinho, Filipe Luís, Diego, Bruno Henrique, Michael, Vitinho and Marcos Braz. The total apprehension and all were isolated until the control was made.

Meanwhile, the ashes of the Sangay volcano, located in Morona Santiago and which became active, took over the sky of Guayaquil, preventing outdoor activities. The cast had to do a light workout at the hotel.

The new wave of tests indicated that all six athletes were actually contaminated, while Marcos Braz’s result was only a false positive. Flamengo reported that the athletes were asymptomatic, but Diego Ribas posted a video on a social network revealing some discomfort. Vitinho remained, who had the Covid-19 confirmed in a counter-test just on Monday.

At this point, Flamengo was already aware that there was an outbreak of the disease and was expecting new cases. On Monday, Márcio Tanure, head of the medical department, and former defender Juan presented symptoms and were subjected to new tests. The confirmation of the cases early Tuesday was the trigger for questions from the Ecuadorian authorities.

It was lunch time, the delegation occupied the floor reserved for Flamengo as usual in all trips, when dozens of Ecuadorians entered not only the hotel, but also this space. The episode generated shame and concern, in addition to breaking down all the protocols to combat the coronavirus.

They were health officials from the Guayaquil prefecture, who not only demanded explanations from Flamengo for the contamination, but also called the local press to accompany the inspection. Those who followed the scene denounce concern and shame on the part of the red and black not only because of the incisive questions but also because of the proximity with people who have not undergone prior tests.

Marcos Braz and Bruno Spindel took over the negotiations. The vice president of soccer even gave a press conference and made it clear that he would expect an official position at Conmebol. Despite the risk of closure of the Monumental stadium – which was even announced by the Ecuadorian authorities – Flamengo followed the usual game schedule.

The episode also showed those present a distance that already jumped throughout the trip between the football department and the other officials who were part of the delegation. Although Marcos Braz speaks of “unity” at a press conference on Saturday, the reports are of very little contact between the parties, just a rare “good morning” greeting.

As if the setbacks in Guayaquil weren’t enough, logistics managers spent the night clearing up problems on the flight that would take four youths from the base to Ecuador and take the contaminated back home. There were more than 24 hours between contacts with responsible agencies in Brazil, Peru and Ecuador.

João Lucas, Nathan, Guilherme Bala and Rodrigo Muniz left Rio on Monday morning, passed through Goiânia, made an unexpected landing in Manaus and only arrived in Guayaquil three hours before the game. A true epic.