Nicolás De la Cruz at Flamengo: Is It Time to Use the Alternatives?

Coach Leonardo Jardim needs to act and put Nicolás De la Cruz on the field. After all, the midfielder is physically ready, has a contract with the club, and still earns a decent salary. This assessment was made by columnist Rodrigo Mattos during Flamengo’s Live on the Canal UOL.

A Change in the Scenario?

De la Cruz couldn’t play in the match against Corinthians due to the foreign player limit in the Brasileirão. But the situation may change with the suspension of Pulgar, which opens up a new spot in the team. For Mattos, the key to Flamengo’s success is truly using the squad available.

“De la Cruz, when he was coming on earlier, he wasn’t playing badly. It’s almost a mystery: he’s physically whole and fit to play, so put him on the bench. Or, if he can play, put him to play. He has a contract, he’s well paid, he’s physically fit, he goes to the match.” – Rodrigo Mattos

Is There Still Hope?

Mattos also raised an interesting point: the real issue isn’t having “many options” in the squad, but rather who is actually coming onto the pitch. According to him, Jardim has been using a tighter group of midfielders, relying on just four players: Pulgar, Jorginho, Evertton Araújo, and Paquetá.

“The other two he doesn’t use. What good does it do for him to say, ‘the squad has many options’? He doesn’t use them.” – Rodrigo Mattos

Jardim’s View and the Future of the Squad

The commentator Bruno Braz added to this perspective, highlighting that from Jardim’s statements in press conferences, it seems he thinks there are “too many midfielders” in the group, which could lead to some departures next season, since not everyone will have a place.

“I feel like he thinks there are too many players for this position. In his head, there are too many midfielders. For next season, someone will rotate.” – Bruno Braz

Mattos reinforced that if the coaching staff considers these players as real alternatives, then it’s time to put them on the field and ease the strain on those who have been playing more.

“If they are options, put them to play.” – Rodrigo Mattos

Jorginho and the Comparison with the Big Teams

One question raised by Mattos was about the comparison involving the midfielder Jorginho. He wonders which midfielder has been better than Jorginho, speaking in terms of the current phase, and mentions the arrival of Vidal, who—despite all his projection—didn’t perform as expected.

“Which is the best midfielder than Jorginho after Andrade? I don’t remember. And playing here, it’s not just his projection of what he was before.” – Rodrigo Mattos

If anything is clear, it’s the need for Jardim to make more strategic choices. The team needs freshness and rotation to maintain a high level of performance throughout the competition.

So, do you agree with what was discussed? Should De la Cruz have more chances on the field?