Flamengo manager has plan to improve emerging goalkeeper Hugo Souza | OneFootball

Flamengo manager Rogério Ceni has revealed up-and-coming goalkeeper Hugo Souza has one major area of his game to improve on.

Souza started last season as third choice with the Rubro-Negro, but took advantage of the opportunities afforded him as a result of injuries to veteran Diego Alves to make his mark.

The 22-year-old stopper made 23 league appearances in all, starting in 11 of the last 13 games as Flamengo produced a late surge to retain their Brasileirão title.

Ceni enjoyed a long career between the posts himself, making well over 500 senior club appearances and being part of the Brazil squad that won the 2002 World Cup.

So the 48-year-old is well placed to understand what Souza needs to do to continue his rapid development.

“He has potential, size, wingspan, even very high reaction speed due to his size, but it is a realisation that we have to make him evolve with his feet,” Ceni told UOL.

The former São Paulo number one elaborated on what that will involve.

“Trying to introduce something to him in terms of positioning, anticipation.

“It’s a team that plays in a high line, that is, the goalkeeper, he has to be a libero.

“He has to play very early, because there is no point in having a system that scores a lot high, and my last man, who I consider the goalkeeper as a line player with his feet, plays very far behind.”

Flamengo fans will hope the 6′ 5″ Duque de Caxias native opts to stay with the Mengão, thereby resisting efforts by Ajax to tempt him to Europe.