Chico da Costa: “Unforgettable nights” vs Fla, eyes Brasileirão edge | OneFootball

Mirassol Striker, Chico da Costa, Talks Exclusively with Coluna do Fla

By: Mônica Alves and Pedro Paulo Catonho

Signed by Mirassol in the middle of the year, Chico da Costa is the sensation of the São Paulo countryside team in this Brasileirão. With four goals in five matches, the center forward will face Flamengo again this Saturday (09), starting at 6:30 PM (Brasília time), at Maracanã. The striker faced the Most Beloved twice last year when he played for Bolívar (BOL) in the Libertadores. Despite one win and one loss, the athlete described the continental battles as “unforgettable nights.”

Photo: Publicity/ Mirassol

Additionally, Chico da Costa spoke exclusively to the Coluna do Fla about the upcoming game for the 19th round of the Brasileirão. The striker acknowledges that Mirassol having only one competition to play might be an advantage in this Saturday’s (09) clash, but he emphasized the strength of the Flamengo squad as something the São Paulo team needs to be cautious about.

WHAT DID CHICO DA COSTA SAY ABOUT THE PHYSICAL ASPECT?

— I think the physical aspect, people don’t see it, but we feel it firsthand, it’s complicated to be playing on weekends, midweek, and with travels, right? So, I believe we might be better rested, but that never means better prepared, right? Because there are other factors, besides the physical one, that are essential during the game — said Chico da Costa to the Coluna do Fla.

— We can say that maybe we are more rested, right? But “better prepared,” we’ll only see on the field. That’s why, in Brazil, it’s so important to have a squad, because of this crazy schedule, the number of travels, in play. It’s very important to have a strong squad, and we trust our squad. But we can also look at the Flamengo squad and know that they are also very prepared — added the striker.

DO GAMES WITH BOLÍVAR RAISE ALERTS FOR CHICO DA COSTA?

Photo: Publicity/ Bolívar

Despite being Brazilian, Chico da Costa faced Flamengo only twice in his career, for Bolívar, in the first phase of last year’s Libertadores. At altitude, the home team won 2-1, with a goal by the Mirassol striker just two minutes in. At Maracanã, Mengão thrashed 4-0. When asked by the Coluna do Fla if last year’s matches offer any lessons, the center forward preferred not to highlight a single player, but rather the red-black team as a whole.

— Today’s game, I think we can’t worry about being cautious with one player. Flamengo is only Flamengo because of the team they have, and it’s not just today, it’s been for many years. Besides having very good individual resources in each sector of the field, the team is very good, very well trained. And it’s Maracanã too. So, it’s a great scenario: the team is prepared, motivated, knows what it has to do — commented Chico.

— And the alert is not for me to say. Everyone is aware of what they have to do today, everyone is confident, everyone is united too. And playing at Maracanã is always synonymous with happiness for what this stadium represents, not only for Flamengo but for all of Brazil — he pointed out.

WHY DID CHICO DA COSTA DESCRIBE THE MATCHES AGAINST FLAMENGO AS UNFORGETTABLE?

Photo: Publicity/ Conmebol

After the clashes in last year’s Libertadores, Chico da Costa was transferred to Cerro Porteño (PAR), where he played 45 games and scored ten goals. Therefore, the center forward did not face Flamengo in the round of 16, when the draw once again placed Bolívar against the red-black team. Despite suffering a thrashing in the first phase, the center forward holds good memories of the matches.

— Talking about those two games against Flamengo is important to me because I think, especially the first leg in La Paz, was very special, a game we needed to win. I ended up scoring the goal very quickly, it was my grandmother’s birthday too, I managed to remember to dedicate the goal to her, and my dad was watching me in La Paz, visiting me along with my brother. And also because of Bruno Sávio (Bolívar’s midfielder): his mother had passed away a few days before the game, he couldn’t travel to Brazil, stayed in La Paz, came into the game, assisted me, and managed to score the winning goal too. I have a great affection for Bruno, so I remember that night in La Paz as a very special night — recalled Chico.

— These are things that don’t happen often. The Maracanã game, I have good memories too, despite the result. I remember the joy we had in the locker room, the opportunity to play not only against Flamengo at Maracanã but on a Wednesday night in the Libertadores. I think Flamengo managed to kill the game early and didn’t give us time to emotionally balance ourselves in the match, or for them to destabilize a bit, because Flamengo needed to win to add points in the group and qualify. I think it was a very beautiful night too — recalled the Mirassol striker.

WHAT ELSE DID CHICO DA COSTA SAY TO COLUNA DO FLA?

WHAT WILL BE THE STRATEGY AT MARACANÃ?

“Talking about strategy is complicated because we adjust details for each game, depending on the opponent. But, in the end, I think they are details. Mirassol has a game identity that is important not to change completely. We can accept some changes, depending on each game, but without losing our essence. We hope to play a good game at Maracanã, without losing our essence. Regardless of the strategy, I think it’s important not to lose our essence.”

WHY IS MIRASSOL THE BIG SURPRISE OF THE BRASILEIRÃO?

“Look, I didn’t have the opportunity to follow the start of the championship so closely because I was abroad, but when the proposal from Mirassol came to my table and I could really take a look at what Mirassol was doing, it’s an enviable work, very organized, and maybe it surprises people who don’t follow.”

“But I think, for those who are there day by day, seeing the work and all, it’s not a surprise, if not the fruits we are reaping from what we have been planting. The work is very solid, very strong, we work intelligently too, we know what we want. So, I believe it’s a surprise for Brazil, a surprise in terms of favoritism, but for the professionals working at Mirassol – players, technical staff, staff, management – it’s not a surprise.”

WHY DID YOU RETURN TO BRAZIL?

“Returning, there were many things. First, coincidence. I ended up not playing much this semester at Cerro (Porteño), I had injuries. I talked to the coach and we decided it would be better for me to seek my path, leave on loan, since Cerro Porteño bought my pass from Bolívar a year ago, so they wouldn’t just let go of a player like that. The proposal from Mirassol came up, I was missing Brazil, that’s the truth, wanting to prove myself in the Brazilian League too.”

“So, everything came together at the right time, it coincided, also a club like Mirassol, which was having a good campaign, has a very good structure, a very good sports project. And I arrived, I arrived motivated, happy to be back in Brazil after so long, missing Brazil, missing home, missing my family. So, there were several factors that made my arrival possible.”

Photo: Publicity/ Cerro

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.