Demands for Flamengo Show Ignore Rivals' Form
According to Bernardo Ramos, demanding spectacle from Flamengo contrasts with the leniency shown to high-spending rivals.
Sports media criticism of Flamengo's performances is once again under scrutiny. While the Rubro-Negro faces intense demands for dazzling displays after beating Mirassol, clubs with similar or larger financial backing receive far more lenient reviews.
The debate surrounding Flamengo's technical level has entered another chapter in the sports media. In a recent analysis aired on SporTV, commentator Carlos Eduardo Lino highlighted a supposed disappointment among Rubro-Negro supporters over the lack of flair in matches, citing the fixture against Mirassol as an example. For Bernardo Ramos, the constant demand for flawless performances ignores the competitive reality of Brazilian soccer and holds the club to a disproportionate standard compared to its direct rivals.
In the video above, Bernardo Ramos breaks down the disparity in media coverage and emphasizes that the primary goal of any official match is securing the victory, not putting on a non-stop artistic performance.
Disparity in critical standards
For Bernardo, the bar set by certain commentators is applied selectively. Palmeiras, managed by Abel Ferreira, invested over R$ 800 million in signings last season—far more than the approximately R$ 300 million spent by Flamengo over the same span—yet plays a brand of soccer that escapes similar scrutiny. Bernardo also pointed to the clash between both sides in the 2025 Libertadores final, where the São Paulo club failed to register a single shot on target without sparking comparable media backlash.
A similar situation unfolds with Cruzeiro, who paid €27 million fixed plus €3 million in add-ons to sign Gerson. Despite early exits in the Libertadores against Flamengo itself and in the Copa do Brasil against Atlético, the Minas Gerais side rarely faces such harsh scrutiny regarding the quality of its play.
Squad management and on-pitch performance
Regarding the match against Mirassol, Bernardo believes the team's dip in second-half performance was tied to Leonardo Jardim's tactical adjustments and forced absences. Defensive midfielder Pulgar had to come off in the first half, while Everton Araújo was substituted at halftime due to a muscle issue. Having built their lead, the squad chose to manage the match tempo.
Despite complaints about their attacking output, Flamengo remains in contention near the top of the Campeonato Brasileiro table, sitting just one point behind Palmeiras. Had they not conceded Matheus Pereira's late goal in the draw against Cruzeiro at the Mineirão, the team would already lead the league on tiebreakers.
Context and financial strength
Context: it is important to emphasize that Flamengo's current financial strength is the result of an austerity process launched in 2013. That year, the club had to release high-profile players, such as Vágner Love back to Russia's CSKA, and settle for more modest rosters to balance its books—even while winning the 2013 Copa do Brasil under Jair de Almeida by defeating Atlético Paranaense.
Following years of modest campaigns and tough eliminations, such as the 2014 loss to León at the Maracanã, the club established the institutional stability that now allows it to challenge for the continent's major honors, making it natural to prioritize competitiveness and silverware over any obligation to entertain.