To CNN, idols from Fla and Galo, Nunes and Reinaldo, comment on the decision for the Copa do Brasil

For many, the greatest idol in Atlético Mineiro’s history, Reinaldo, the “King of Mineirão”, was prevented in 1980 from crowning his passage through the rooster with a national title.

The person responsible for frustrating the Atletico icon was Flamengo – who will be opponents of Galo on Wednesday night (22), at 21:30, for the first leg of the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil.

In 1980, Flamengo and Atlético disputed the final of the Brazilian Championship. In the first leg of the decision, at Mineirão, Reinaldo scored and guaranteed the victory of the miners by 1 to 0. The “King” believes that the “main rivalry of Atlético at national level” was born there.

“This rivalry will always exist. Flamengo has one of the biggest fans in Brazil, which imposes itself throughout the country. And Atlético’s fans are also huge, the biggest in Minas, with more than 10 million Atletico fans. And also because the two clubs have always made great teams. And now they will face each other again. It’s a national classic”, says the former player to CNN.

In the return match of 1980, the red-blacks would need to win by a goal difference to take the title, as they had the best campaign in the semifinals of the tournament. Then the star of Nunes shone, who scored two goals and secured Flamengo’s first Brazilian title.

Until the 37th minute of the second half of the return match, played in a Maracanã crowded by more than 150,000 spectators, the score was 2-2 – which gave Galo the title. Nunes, then, tried to score his second goal and made the stadium explode. The 3-2 gave the title to Flamengo, who had a better campaign in the semifinals.

“I was fortunate enough to score the title goal and be Brazilian champion for the first time. It felt like a great victory. I felt I had to take responsibility: I dribbled on Silvestre’s foot towards the goal. That play was written. I had to be myself to decide this move, decide the title”, recalls the former player in an interview with CNN.

After that decision, Atleticanos and Rubro-Negroes would face each other in several other eliminatory clashes, in national and international tournaments — including the Copa do Brasil.

Reinaldo, who believes in a 2-0 victory for the rooster in this Wednesday’s match, says that Hulk, Keno and Nacho Fernández are the Atletico players who can – as he did in 1980 – unbalance the clash in favor of Atlético.

As for the “Top Scorer of Decisions”, despite the troubled moment that Gávea is currently experiencing, Flamengo can defeat Atlético Mineiro and advance in the competition.

“If Nunes were playing, it would be 3-2, goals from Nunes. Have no doubt that Flamengo can beat Atlético inside Mineirão, they have a squad for that. it just depends on them [jogadores]. You need to have personality, tactical obedience is very important, each one helping the other and always believing”, considers Nunes.

Check out the main excerpts from the interviews with the former players below:

Climate of the 1980s decision

Reinaldo
“In the first game at Mineirão we won 1-0, I scored. And we went to the final in Rio, and Flamengo only needed a one-goal win. If it were another regulation, we would certainly have an advantage. And Flamengo came with everything up [no segundo jogo], not only with the crowd, the courage, but also with a referee who got in the way of the decision. But it was a great game, and the two teams formed the basis of the Brazilian team. I scored the goals that caused a deep silence at the Maracanã, and it was a wonderful feeling.”

Nunes
“That 1980 decision had two super important games. The first one was there in Mineirão, we lost 1-0 due to Júnior’s misfortune. But there was not the decision, the decision was in Maracanã. So the score didn’t scare us. I was fortunate enough to score the title goal and make Flamengo Brazilian champion for the first time. It felt like a great victory. I felt I had to take responsibility: I dribbled on Silvestre’s foot towards the goal. That play was written. It had to be myself to decide that play, decide the title.”

Teams’ current moment

Reinaldo
“I think Atletico will surf this wave of decisions, to be disputing and winning titles for a long time. This is not only for the material, for the team it has, but also for the organization. The plan here at Atlético is for us to win titles this decade — or at least be fighting for titles. I’m not going to say you’re going to win everything, because there’s no such thing as a team that’s going to win everything.”

Nunes
“They are missing [jogadores do Flamengo] have the awareness that they can get out of the situation they find themselves in. They are great players. If they weren’t, they wouldn’t be in Flamengo. They have to be aware: ‘if I’m at Flamengo, it’s because I’m capable of wearing Flamengo’s shirt. To play this game, you need to have a lot of personality. The Flamengo team is a wonderful team, it’s up to them. They have to show it on the field.”

Guess for the game and players who can decide

Reinaldo
“I would trade the result of the last game [pelo Brasileirão], wanted them to win 2-0 in the Copa do Brasil. In the Copa do Brasil, a 2-0 lead is already a good advantage. I think Atlético can and should repeat this score. Hulk, Hulk, Hulk. The Hulk is really decisive, he is showing wonderful football here, infecting the entire team. I think Hulk, Keno and Nacho are lethal players who can, yes, kill Flamengo in that decision.”

Nunes
“If Nunes were playing, it would be 3-2, goals from Nunes. It will be a good game. Have no doubt that Flamengo can beat Atlético inside Mineirão, they have a squad for that. It just depends on them. You need to have personality, tactical obedience is very important, each one helping the other and always believing. Of course we are going to find a great team, but we can indeed win.”